Legal immigrants are in fear of losing everything they have. The Trump Administration decided
to decrease printing work permits and green cards for immigrants, leaving many
undocumented. The company in charge of printing green cards and employment authorizations
had their contract expire mid-June of 2020. The facility in Corbin, Kentucky, shut down its
production completely, while Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has been operating at reduced capacity.
Congress will have to approve a loan of 1.2 billion dollars for the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) to be able to contact the company. The number of immigrants
that are anxiously waiting for their documentation is high. Some immigrants have already
completed the required credentials to become a legal immigrant. The process takes years, and
they are now waiting for proof of legality.
Legal permanent residents are required by the Immigration and Nationality Act to carry their
green cards at all times. Misdemeanors, fines, and possible jail time are the consequences of
not carrying their green card. Immigrants must also show their green cards for reentry to the
United States and when applying for a job. The delay in printing legal documents has caused an
increase in inquiries that are not being addressed.
Applicants and immigration attorneys believed delays were caused by the pandemic, not
realizing that there is a much bigger problem taking precedence. The status of an application
can be found online, but there have been no updates, leaving many immigrants wondering
about the status of their applications. Terminating the contract with this company is another
step that the Trump Administration has taken to suppress legal immigration.