U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., Chairman
_______________________________________
News Advisory
For immediate release
Contact: Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn
August 5, 2004
202-225-2492
Sensenbrenner Commends Bush Administration for Reducing Immigration Case Backlog
Evidence Administration’s Plan is Paying Early Dividends
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) today commended the Bush administration for reducing by hundreds of thousands of cases this year the backlog in immigration petitions.
Chairman Sensenbrenner stated, “This success reducing the backlog this year is very welcome news and evidence that the Administration’s backlog reduction plan is paying early dividends. It also points to the wisdom of Congress’s decision to abolish the INS by separating its responsibilities two years ago. For far too long, those following our immigration laws by patiently waiting in line did not receive the professional and timely response they deserved under the old system.”
“Addressing the immigration case backlog is a priority for the Committee, as evidenced by the two oversight hearings this year on the issue by Rep. John Hostettler’s Immigration, Border Security, and Claims Subcommittee. The Committee will continue working with the Bush Administration on this issue,” added Chairman Sensenbrenner.
In a July 20 letter to Mr. Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Chairman Sensenbrenner stated, “USCIS recently provided Committee Staff recent immigration application backlog figures (through May) indicating the backlog has been reduced by over 326,932 non-asylum applications during the fiscal year, and by over 370,000 since the beginning of FY2004. I am glad to hear that USCIS continues to complete more applications than they receive at this time.”
Chairman Sensenbrenner’s letter to Director Aguirre is below.
July 20, 2004
Mr. Eduardo Aguirre, Jr.
Director, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20314
Dear Mr. Aguirre:
I am greatly encouraged by your presenting an official plan to reduce the immigration application backlog at the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims hearing on June 17. Immigration experts have commented favorably on the plan and I urge you to meet the incorporated milestones. The Committee Staff is available for coordination of efforts and consultation should U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) run into unexpected delays in meeting those milestones.
I also want to congratulate you on significantly reducing the backlog this year. USCIS recently provided Committee Staff recent immigration application backlog figures (through May) indicating the backlog has been reduced by over 326,932 non-asylum applications during the fiscal year, and by over 370,000 since the beginning of FY2004. I am glad to hear that USCIS continues to complete more applications than they receive at this time.
The quarterly status reports mentioned in your plans are most appreciated, and I look forward to reviewing them. Your staff may contact Committee Counsel Luke Bellocchi at (202) 225-7610 for any further coordination of this issue.
Sincerely,
F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.
Chairman
FJS/lpb