§271 Establishment of Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services

Summary

Creates a new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services inside the Department. The Bureau is led by a Director who reports to the Deputy Secretary, must have at least 5 years of management experience, and is paid at the same level as the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Border Security. The Director sets and runs the Bureau’s policies, advises the Deputy Secretary about any effects on Border Security, makes national immigration services priorities, meets regularly with the Ombudsman to fix serious service problems, and must formally respond to the Ombudsman’s annual report within 3 months. Within 1 year the Director must start a managerial rotation program so GS–14 and higher managers learn major Bureau functions and work in at least one field office and one service center; the Secretary must report to Congress on this program within 2 years. The Director may also carry out pilot projects to clear or prevent backlogs in application processing, including adding or moving staff and simplifying paperwork, under 8 U.S.C. 1573(a). Several adjudication duties and the staff, facilities, and funding that supported them are moved from the Commissioner to the new Director. The Bureau must have a Chief of Policy and Strategy to research and coordinate policy with Border Security, a principal legal advisor to give legal guidance and represent the Bureau in visa-petition appeals before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a Budget Officer to run the Bureau’s budget and collect fees and fines, and a Chief of the Office of Citizenship to promote citizenship training and materials for those seeking naturalization.