• We redesigned the Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as the Green Card, to include a radio frequency identification tag that allows Customs and Border Protection to quickly access the electronic records of travelers seeking to enter the United States and includes new security features that reduce the risks of counterfeiting, tampering, and fraud.
• We redesigned the Certificate of Naturalization, utilizing a tamper-proof printing process and embedding digitized photos and signatures.
• We added a machine-readable zone to the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to make it easier for border control officers to more efficiently identify people who have already been approved for immigration benefits and who have been reviewed previously by USCIS officers.
• We have enhanced our partnership with the Forensic Document Laboratory which is dedicated exclusively to detecting fraudulent documents. As a result, we can better identify fake documents used to seek immigration benefits.

• Dozens of our Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers are aligned with local FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTFFs) to coordinate resources and provide immigration expertise to federal government agencies in support of terrorism investigations. 
• Our FDNS officers furnish support to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the FBI’s National Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Terrorist Screening Center, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s National Security Unit.
• We regularly exchange information with US-VISIT related to refugee claimants under existing data-sharing agreements with foreign-government partners.

Labels: Director's Posts

On August 3, in Washington D.C., DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas joined other DHS senior leadership and anti-human trafficking stakeholders and advocates to mark the first anniversary of the Blue Campaign, a first-of-its-kind campaign to coordinate and enhance the Department’s anti-human trafficking efforts.  In their remarks, Director Mayorkas and Secretary Napolitano underscored the critical work of anti-human trafficking organizations that provide vital services and support to victims as they re-integrate into their communities.

Through partnerships with community organizations and law enforcement entities, USCIS continues to support the Blue Campaign by raising awareness of the immigration relief available to victims of human trafficking.  By protecting victims, T visas and U visas supply law enforcement agencies and prosecutors with the tools to bring human trafficking criminals to justice. 

In the past year, USCIS visa experts have traveled to 25 cities across the country to train federal, state, and local law enforcement on how they can help ensure that trafficking victims have access to immigration relief. We are committed to expanding this outreach.

Check out the additional DHS Blue Campaign efforts on the The Blog at Homeland Security, a News Release about the event and www.dhs.gov/HumanTrafficking. 

Raise awareness and “Like” the Blue Campaign Facebook page.

• Clarify that immigrant entrepreneurs may obtain an employment-based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements, and also may qualify for a National Interest Waiver under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States;
• Expand the Premium Processing Service to immigrant petitions for multinational executives and managers;
• Clarify when a sole employee-entrepreneur can establish a valid employer-employee relationship for the purposes of qualifying for an H-1B non-immigrant visa;
• Implement fundamental enhancements to streamline the EB-5 process based directly on stakeholder feedback;
• Launch new engagement opportunities to seek input and feedback on how to address the unique circumstances of entrepreneurs, new businesses and startup companies.

Labels: Director's Posts