Director of U.S. Immigration Services reforms current agency tactics

May 25th, 2010

CALIFORNIA – Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, was bombarded by complaints from over 300 immigration attorneys and immigrant advocates at a recent teleconference in Laguna Niguel.
On the one hand, Mayorkas, 50, is being commended on his new policies to improve the current immigration system after just eight months of taking the position. His responsibilities include overseeing all immigration issues, from applications for visas and citizenship to issues of asylum and deportation.
Many immigration advocates have praised the Cuban immigrant and former attorney for his candidness and refreshingly open policy making techniques d meetings within the agency. As part of his reformation strategies, Mayorkas has asked the public to provide feedback on his current project, a review of all agency policies he is conducting to determine their consistency and fairness.

Mayorkas has also implemented new technology that will provide for greater anti-fraud systems and employees that will monitor those applying for business visas.

Not everyone shares the positive sentiments for the director’s actions, however. Some, like Robert P. Deasy, spokesman for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, believe that his efforts are leading to unintended negative consequences.
Deasy claims that a number of his organization’s clients are complaining of increased visa denial rates, affecting even those who are applying legally.

This was a main complaint addressed at the Laguna Niguel teleconference. Immigration attorneys explained how his policies were affecting the visa application process of numerous scientists, artists and entertainers who would bring a positive influence to the United States.
Although tensions arose during the conference, Mayorkas kept his cool, insisting on addressing all questions and concerns and listening to the crowd’s comments attentively and with adamant concern.

Mayorkas, having been just a year old when his family moved from Cuba to the United States, describes his job positively. “The work of the agency is of fundamental importance to the nation, but it’s also a very meaningful issue to my family,” he noted.

He continues to strive for a more transparent way of conducting policies within the agency and hopes that his actions will improve the immigration system currently in place in the United States.