27.5%
Unable to work due to authorization gaps
Policy-induced unemployment among respondents whose employment authorization lapsed or was never issued while adjudications remained frozen.
EmploymentPublished July 2026
Economic and Human Cost of the USCIS Adjudication Pause
The hidden cost of immigration delays
Primary research documenting the individual, household, and systemic consequences of the USCIS adjudication pause for immigrants lawfully present in the United States. Survey evidence spans 31 U.S. states and 25 countries of birth.
47 pages8 sections31 U.S. states25 countries of birth
Key findings
What the report documents
Selected headline findings from the published report. Percentages use the denominators stated in the full document.
75.2%
Report at least one direct financial impact
94 of 125 respondents reported income loss, debt, depleted savings, or inability to meet basic needs.
Financial8.95/10
Mean self-reported stress level
Median stress score reached the maximum of 10 across 127 respondents, reflecting prolonged uncertainty.
Health60.9%
Considering leaving the United States
A significant share of highly skilled respondents signal potential long-term talent loss to competing countries.
Brain drainFigures cited on this page come from the published July 2026 report. Interactive dashboards on this site show approved Round 1 survey data from the live database and may differ slightly if additional responses are approved after publication.
Research methodology
A documented analytical framework
A separate seven-page methodology appendix documents how the survey was fielded, how impact measures and vulnerable groups were constructed, which statistical tests were applied, and where interpretation must remain bounded.
Transparent sample construction
The study collected 189 completed survey forms between February and March 2026. The core econometric and demographic analyses used 149 valid responses after excluding records missing core demographic variables.
Mixed-method, seven-domain instrument
The survey combined structured measures across demographics, education, employment, immigration, financial, legal and family, health, and migration-intention topics with voluntary open-ended testimony.
Multiple statistical checks
Analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Welch’s t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, OLS models with HC3 robust standard errors, and binary logistic regression reported as odds ratios.
Explicit limits on interpretation
The appendix identifies purposive sampling, self-reporting, subgroup size, temporal specificity, and cross-sectional design as limitations. Regression coefficients are treated as conditional associations, not isolated causal effects.
Table of contents
Report sections
- 01Executive Summary
- 02Background and Policy Context
- 03Purpose and Methods of the Report
- 04Direct Impact: The Human Cost of a Processing Freeze
- 05Indirect and Systemic Costs: The Ripple Effect
- 06Real Stories from Real People
- 07Policy Recommendations
- 08Conclusions
Read the full report
The complete 47-page publication is available below, sized to one page at a time. You can read it inline or download a copy at any time.
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Explore supporting resources
Read policy recommendations, review methodology, or explore interactive Round 1 survey data.