The USCIS adjudication pause has translated directly into rescinded job offers, interrupted careers, and significant income loss. For the 189 individuals who participated in this survey, the economic disruption is not theoretical — it is immediate, measurable, and ongoing.
A Policy-Induced Unemployment Crisis
Among the 149 respondents who reported their employment status, 41 (27.5%) are unemployed specifically due to the lack of valid work authorization. This is not market-driven unemployment. These individuals did not lose their jobs due to economic downturns, layoffs, or performance issues; rather, they lost the legal right to work because a federal administrative hold froze the processing of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).
The broader employment impacts reveal compounding economic harm. The most common consequence, reported by 69 of 132 respondents, was the inability to accept a new job offer. An additional 43 respondents were unable to change jobs or accept earned promotions. 32 individuals lost existing employment when their EADs expired during the pause. 15 respondents were unable to start their own businesses, and 13 had job offers rescinded by employers unwilling or unable to wait through an undefined administrative timeline.
The Scale of Income Loss
When asked about their estimated total lost income due to inability to work, the largest share of respondents (26.5%) reported losses exceeding $100,000, while another 28.6% reported losses between $30,000 and $99,999.
These figures demonstrate that the pause is not primarily affecting marginal earners. Prior to the pause, respondents made substantial economic contributions. Among 138 individuals, the largest income group earned between $75,000 and $99,999 annually, and more than one-third earned six-figure salaries. Among those now unemployed, some previously earned between $150,000 and $299,999, with one individual earning over $300,000.
Their tax contributions were equally significant: 21 respondents reported paying over $100,000 in total federal taxes during their time in the United States, while 20 reported paying between $50,000 and $99,999. These revenue streams are now disrupted. This aligns with broader evidence. Analysis by the American Immigration Council estimates that immigrants generated approximately $1.7 trillion in economic activity in 2023 and contributed roughly $652 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.1 A 2026 Cato Institute study similarly finds that, over time, immigrants have contributed more in taxes than they have received in government benefits.2
The Sectors Hit Hardest
Survey respondents are concentrated in sectors already facing documented labor shortages in the United States. Healthcare is one of the most represented industries, with 29 respondents working in the field. This is not a sector with surplus labor; it is one where the U.S. actively recruits international talent, yet this policy simultaneously sidelines that same workforce.
"I am a physician in training who has lost a residency spot, losing years of hard study and money to secure a position through the Match. My patients lost their primary care physician, and I held an active leadership position in my state medical organization."
— Survey Respondent, Physician in TrainingMost respondents are also mid-career professionals. The largest group (33.3%) reports 6–10 years of professional experience, and 73.4% have more than three years of work experience in the United States. These are individuals who have developed institutional knowledge, demonstrated productivity, and integrated into the U.S. workforce. Replacing them would be both costly and time-consuming.
The Brain Drain Multiplier
Perhaps the most significant long-term risk is the growing likelihood of departure. Only 26.6% of respondents stated definitively that they do not plan to leave the United States. The remaining 73.4% expressed varying degrees of openness to leaving: 47 have considered it, 26 are seriously considering it, and 4 are actively planning to depart.
Preferred destinations include Canada, Europe, and Australia, countries that directly compete with the United States for high-skilled labor. Canada, in particular, has established immigration pathways specifically designed to attract the type of professionals represented in this survey: highly educated, mid-career, and economically productive.
If even a fraction of these individuals leave, the United States stands to lose not only future tax revenue and labor contributions, but also the returns on prior investments in their U.S. education, as 66.9% of respondents obtained at least one degree in the United States. The country also risks losing their institutional knowledge and broader economic contributions. Immigrants have long played a critical role in filling labor shortages, driving innovation, and sustaining consumer demand.3 By preventing their full participation in the workforce, the adjudication pause risks generating lasting economic consequences that extend well beyond the immediate disruption.
References
- American Immigration Council. "Map the Impact." data.americanimmigrationcouncil.org
- Bier, David J., Michael Howard, and Julian Salazar. "Immigrants' Recent Effects on Government Budgets: 1994–2023." Cato Institute, 2026. cato.org
- Roy, Diana. "How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy?" Council on Foreign Relations, 2025. cfr.org