By Stephen Dinan – The Washington Times – Updated: 6:35 p.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024
The Homeland Security Department is on a crash course to recruit and train people ahead of the Aug. 19 launch of President Biden’s latest deportation amnesty for illegal immigrant spouses married to U.S. citizens.
Two weeks before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is supposed to start accepting applications, the agency hasn’t revealed vital details, such as the cost of application and what sorts of criminal entanglements will be forgiven for the new “parole” program.
The Washington Times has learned that training won’t begin until Aug. 19 for some of the 267 staff positions dedicated to processing the applications, and others won’t be reassigned until a week later.
Mr. Biden announced the program more than six weeks ago. Those on all sides of the immigration debate are surprised that so many holes remain this close to the start date.
“We don’t have clear details yet,” said one activist in Florida whose group plans to operate clinics to help applicants.
One detail is clear: USCIS is creating a “100% virtual” office to handle the applications.
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An internal email late last month said the agency was rushing to recruit immigration officers, assistants and supervisors for the new virtual office, known as Waivers and Temporary Status, or WATS.
The email from Connie Nolan, associate director of USCIS service center operations, confirmed that training for the background check unit won’t begin until Aug. 19 — the date the program is supposed to start taking applications. Some positions won’t even be reassigned until a week later, according to the email.
USCIS didn’t respond to repeated inquiries for this report, but Ms. Nolan acknowledged chaotic times at the agency.
“We know there has been a lot of changes in the past couple of years and probably more to come. Change brings opportunities and with it personal growth,” she wrote.
Experts on the immigration security side of the debate said the virtual office is worrying because it increases chances for fraud in a program already ripe for bogus applications.
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https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/aug/5/dhs-scrambling-to-prepare-for-amnesty-program-for-
