U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is the component of the United States Department of Homeland Security responsible for the administration of the country's lawful immigration system. It adjudicates a wide range of immigration benefits, including petitions for lawful permanent residence, applications for U.S. citizenship, and humanitarian protections. The agency's mission centers on securing America's promise as a nation of immigrants while ensuring the integrity of its immigration system.

History and establishment

The agency was established on March 1, 2003, under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which dissolved the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This reorganization, a direct consequence of the September 11 attacks, transferred immigration service functions from the defunct United States Department of Justice to the newly created United States Department of Homeland Security. The transition aimed to separate immigration services from enforcement, which were assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Key historical immigration laws, such as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Immigration Act of 1990, continue to form the bedrock of the legal framework it administers.

Organizational structure

The agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its primary operational center, the Potomac Service Center, located in Arlington, Virginia. It is led by a Director, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The agency's field structure is divided into numerous district offices, field offices, and asylum offices across the country and internationally. Key operational components include the Service Center Operations directorate, which manages benefit processing, and the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, which works in coordination with other Intelligence Community agencies.

Functions and responsibilities

Its core function is the adjudication of immigration and citizenship benefits. This includes processing applications for lawful permanent resident status, naturalization certificates, and various nonimmigrant visas like the H-1B visa. The agency also administers humanitarian programs, including refugee admissions, asylum petitions, and protections under the Violence Against Women Act. Furthermore, it oversees the E-Verify program, used by employers to confirm work authorization, and manages the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Genealogy Program, which provides historical immigration records.

Major programs and services

Principal programs include the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, often called the "green card lottery," established by the Immigration Act of 1990. The agency processes family-based and employment-based immigrant visa petitions, as well as applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and related work permits. It conducts naturalization ceremonies, often in partnership with federal courts like the United States district court, and administers the military naturalization program for members of the United States Armed Forces. Other critical services include granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and processing humanitarian parole requests.

Leadership and staffing

The agency is headed by a Director; as of 2023, the Director is Ur M. Jaddou, who was confirmed by the United States Senate in July 2021. The Director reports to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. With over 19,000 employees, including federal civil servants and contractors, the workforce is comprised of immigration services officers, asylum officers, and support staff located in offices across the United States and in several international locations, such as the Beijing Field Office. Leadership also includes several deputy directors overseeing policy, management, and operations.

Legal authority and oversight

Its primary legal authority derives from the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which has been amended by numerous acts of Congress, including the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The agency is subject to oversight by congressional committees, including the United States House Committee on the Judiciary and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Its decisions are subject to judicial review by the United States courts of appeals and can be influenced by rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States, such as those pertaining to DACA. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General conducts audits and investigations of its programs and operations.