Immigration agency avoids questions about controversial policy change

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Repeated refusals to provide answers have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who have expressed indignation at the change in policy.

"You can not tell me why there is a new policy, you can not tell me what motivated the new policy and you can not tell me what the new policy is," said Maryland's Democratic Representative, Jamie Raskin, Chair of the Board of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. "Is this a correct assessment of the situation?"

"It's my testimony, sir, yes," said Daniel Renaud, associate director at the USCIS Field Operations Branch. Renaud noted during the hearing that his answers were based on the advice of the lawyer.

Last month, the USCIS sent letters to family members who had requested an eviction waiver, claiming that the agency's field offices were no longer considering petitions for deportation. "Deferred share", with the exception of certain military exceptions. The agency said it will hand it over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine if non-military issues warrant deferred action, a spokeswoman said. ICE has the discretion to determine who will or will not be arrested or deported.
The USCIS decision immediately provoked negative reactions, while undocumented families and lawyers struggled to get answers on the abrupt change in policy. It also provoked a trial of civil rights groups.

After repeatedly reiterating why the policy change had occurred, Renaud declined to answer, citing the advice of a lawyer. "I do not know what else to say," he said at an exchange with New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "I can only say that you are arguing with the wrong person."

Earlier during the hearing, lawmakers heard moving testimonials from witnesses who, because of their health problems, were relieved of the eviction and remained in limbo as a result of 39, a policy change canceling this measure.

Maria Isabel Bueso, 24, and Jonathan Sanchez, 16, described receiving the letter from the USCIS.

"I was so scared.It was the first time we received this kind of letter," said Bueso. "I am always overwhelmed by different emotions." Bueso, who suffers from a rare genetic disease, arrived in the United States from Guatemala at the age of 7 to participate in a clinical trial.

"I do not want to die," said Sanchez, who came to the United States to seek treatment for cystic fibrosis. Sanchez warned that his home country, Honduras, was not ready to treat his illness.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the decision of the administration at Wednesday's hearing. Florida representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the decision a "disgusting decision of the administration", while Republican lawmakers acknowledged that the issue needed to be resolved. "We have to solve this problem," said Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina.

Since the policy change, the USCIS has announced its reopening of some pending cases involving people seeking redress. "We have reopened all cases that were denied on August 7 or later," said Renaud, totaling about 424 cases.

Nevertheless, lawmakers seemed frustrated throughout the hearing as they were trying to find out more about the policy.

"Who is your lawyer?" Who advised you to do this? Ocasio-Cortez asked at the end of the hearing.

"I take the lawyer from the DHS General Counsel," Renaud said.

"But what person told you to do it specifically, certainly someone you told him? You quote a council," continued Ocasio-Cortez later. "Was it a letter, was it a meeting?"

"I'll take that back and come back with you, if I can," Renaud said.

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