U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Washington announced new enforcement powers for its agents, enabling them to play a more active role in addressing immigration law violations. This development follows the publication of a final rule that expands the agency’s law enforcement capabilities.
Under the newly established guidelines, agents classified as USCIS 1811 will be able to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals who violate immigration laws. This significant change comes as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s initiative to enhance the effectiveness of USCIS in national security and public safety matters.
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has officially delegated specific law enforcement authorities to USCIS, allowing for a broader scope of operations, which includes making arrests and carrying firearms. USCIS aims to utilize these new powers to strengthen its integrity in administering immigration processes, address immigration fraud, and collaborate more effectively with other law enforcement agencies, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Joseph B. Edlow, the director of USCIS, indicated that this move positions the agency as a vital component in the immigration enforcement landscape, emphasizing its historic role in upholding immigration laws. He expressed confidence that these new capabilities will enhance USCIS’s ability to investigate civil and criminal violations within its jurisdiction.
Previously, USCIS limited its investigations to referrals made to the Homeland Security Investigations division within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The new rule allows USCIS to take control of investigations from initiation to resolution, thereby alleviating responsibilities for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. This redirection is expected to bolster efforts to combat transnational crime and expedite the process of removing individuals who seek to exploit the immigration system.
Plans are underway for USCIS to recruit and train special agents to act under these expanded authorities. This transition will not only improve organizational efficiency but is also expected to help clear backlogs of cases involving fraud, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of the immigration system.
The final rule is set to take effect 30 days after its publication, providing USCIS the legal framework required to implement these changes effectively. Those interested in further details can refer to the content published in the Federal Register.
This article was automatically generated by Open AI and may contain inaccuracies. For corrections or retractions, please contact us at contact@publiclawlibrary.org.