The New York Times reports that a severe backlog in the processing background checks in support of applications to adjust status has had a significant adverse impact on disabled asylees. According to the article, 6,000 handicapped asylees, including amputees and the blind, have lost their disability benefits. Congress enacted legislation to permit $630 in monthly disability benefits to handicapped asylees until they became US citizens, but such payments were to last only seven years. Congress had not anticipated the severe delays in obtaining citizenship. Lawyers for the handicapped are suing the government. US officials report that unless a solution is found, another 46,000 could lose their benefits by 2012.
