Representative Tran Raises Alarm on Congressional Immigration Casework Delays

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) raised significant concerns regarding delays by and non-response from the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in handling congressional casework inquiries. These delays mean that hard-working, law-abiding constituents are losing their status and their ability to work. Representative Tran's letter to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow seeks further information about the cause of the casework backlogs and urges USCIS to restore constituents' access to timely and accurate assistance as they navigate the immigration system.

Read the full letter HERE.

"Since January of this year, my office has experienced a consistent and troubling absence of responses to congressional inquiries submitted to the TSC. This lack of communication appears to be in direct conflict with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy guidance, which states that congressional inquiries are expected to receive a response within 30 days," wrote Representative Tran. "Constituents served by my office are reporting significant hardship due to delayed adjudications, including the imminent loss of employment because of lapses in work authorization. USCIS's inability to provide updates or assistance to my office in a timely manner further compounds these challenges and interferes with my duty to effectively serve my constituents."

Since taking office in January 2025, Tran's office has opened over 230 cases to assist constituents related to the adjudication of their immigration status with federal agencies.

Representative Tran continues to closely monitor immigration enforcement activity across Southern California. He recently joined Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46) and Chuy García (IL-04) in a letter to USCIS requesting immediate action to reduce delays in processing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal requests. Tran introduced the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act to deliver justice for victims of ICE's constitutional rights abuses, and has cosponsored legislation to place checks on ICE's conduct.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.