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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... SOU training gives tips on what to do if there's an active shooter ... SEATTLE Federal lawsuit: Officials delay immigrants' work authorization Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted May. 26, 2015 at 4:30 PM By The Associated Press Posted May. 26, 2015 at 4:30 PM » Social News PORTLAND — A new lawsuit alleges federal immigration officials routinely delay issuing employment authorization documents to eligible immigrants and fail to issue interim documents, thwarting their ability to work legally. According to the suit, immigrants who are renewing their work authorization are also at risk: They can lose their jobs, benefits and, in some states, their driver's licenses. As a result, immigrants can't support themselves and their families while their immigration applications are pending. The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. It seeks class action status. Work permits are typically issued to people eligible for asylum, green cards and other types of visas and immigration statuses. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is required to decide most employment authorization applications within 90 days. Initial applications based on pending asylum claims must be reviewed within 30 days. In case of delays, the USCIS is required to issue an interim work authorization document, valid for up to 240 days. But the lawsuit says the agency has stopped issuing interim documents despite routine delays. Marvella Arcos-Perez from Washington state, an asylum applicant and one of the plaintiffs in the suit, has waited for her work authorization renewal since early January. According to the suit, Arcos-Perez is a widow who supports a daughter with disabilities through a job at a mattress company, but could lose the job without authorization to work. Another plaintiff, Carmen Osorio-Ballesteros from Illinois, has waited for her work authorization since December. Osorio-Ballesteros was previously approved for the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which gives young people brought into the U.S. illegally as children temporary legal status and a two-year work permit. According to the suit, she applied as required to renew that status, but the work permit has yet to arrive. A mother of three U.S. citizen children, Osorio-Ballesteros lost her full-time job when her work authorization expired in April. The USCIS declined to comment because the issue is under active litigation. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted May. 26, 2015 at 4:30 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501