USCIS announces 2011 strategy

Yesterday I participated in a conference call hosted by Alejandro Mayorkas, the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During this telephone meeting, which was attended by stakeholders from across the country, Mr. Mayorkas outlined what the priorities and goals of USCIS will be in 2011.

Director Mayorkas noted that in 2011 USCIS will be dedicated to the accomplishment of the following items:

1. Strengthening national security controls

Work in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service to provide a secure mailing system for the mailing of permanent resident cards and employment authorization documents.

3. Implement the USCIS initiative to combat the unauthorized practice of immigration law - this means they will take steps to help local authorities prosecute people who illegally provide legal services, such as notaries public.

4. Allow access to the E-Verify system for prospective employees to check their employment eligibility status themselves.

5. Improve USCIS internal operations. For example, the user will soon be allowed to submit documentation requested by the USCIS via email.

6. Provide mobile services to communities that do not have easy access to our centers, such as people working in the fields.

7. Improve the way immigration law and regulations are implemented in the various USCIS offices.

8. To publish more regularly the precedent decisions of the Administrative Appeals Office. In addition, persons interested in the case will be able to give their opinion by submitting legal briefs as friends of the court. amicus brief), provided that the persons involved give their consent.

9. Standardization of forms to request information from the user.

10. Expand the promotion of citizenship education and citizen participation.

11. Promote transparency in USCIS activities and public liaisons.

12. Improve the administration of the EB-5 program by ensuring that the user has the necessary guidance.

13. Provide better customer service and listen to suggestions from the public.

14. Faster processing of applications submitted by people involved in the world of art and entertainment.

15. File more lawsuits against people who commit fraud in applying for immigration benefits.

During the call, I commended Director Mayorkas for his efforts to improve USCIS services. In particular, I thanked him for his efforts to combat the unauthorized practice of immigration law, as I have seen many cases where notary publics have wrongly advised the immigrant community, harming their chances of legalizing their status in the country.

I also informed him about the acts of discrimination that Salvadorans in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program have recently suffered. I asked USCIS to improve service to this community by expediting the issuance of new work permits and improving the SAVE system used by government offices to verify the legal status of people in TPS.