U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Establishes New Center to Strengthen Immigration Screening and Target Bad Actors
New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the establishment of a specialized unit to strengthen the ability of America’s immigration system to screen out terrorists, criminal aliens, and other foreign nationals who pose potential threats to public safety or who have committed fraud or other crimes. Once fully operationalized, the USCIS Vetting Center, headquartered in Atlanta, will centralize the enhanced vetting of aliens and allow the agency to respond more nimbly to changes in a shifting threat landscape.
“USCIS’ role in the nation’s immigration system has never been more critical. In the wake of several recent incidents of violence, including a foreign national attacking National Guard service members on U.S. soil, establishing this vetting center will give us more enhanced capabilities to safeguard national security and ensure public safety,” said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow.
“Under the Biden administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was pushed to expedite the immigration and naturalization processes with little regard for how that affected national security and the safety of our communities,” said Edlow. “We changed that approach on day one of the Trump administration. Under President Trump, we are building more protective measures that ensure fraud, deception, and threats do not breach the integrity of our immigration system.”
Once the new vetting center is fully operational, it will draw on the full spectrum of classified and nonclassified screening and vetting capabilities and provide a more thorough supplemental review of immigration applications and petitions. These reviews will leverage state-of-the-art technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The center will utilize Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement and intelligence community screening resources to conduct this critical work and will be tasked with conducting reviews of pending applications as well as a more holistic review of already-approved applications for aliens. Reviews will prioritize applications from presidentially designated countries of concern.
This announcement adds to a series of recent efforts that align with presidential Executive Order 14161, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. These include the recent implementation of national security measures allowing for immigration officers to consider negative, country-specific factors (such as a nation’s lack of government-issued identity documents and inability to conduct criminal background checks) when vetting aliens from 19 high-risk countries; the recent pause on affirmative asylum application decisions; record-breaking hiring numbers for new USCIS homeland defenders; a proposed rule to ensure more robust screening and vetting of certain aliens before extending their employment authorizations; and the establishment of USCIS special agents with law enforcement authority to investigate, arrest, and prosecute immigration violations.
FAQ
What is the new USCIS Vetting Center?
The USCIS Vetting Center is a specialized unit created by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to centralize and enhance the vetting of foreign nationals. Its primary goal is to strengthen our ability to screen out individuals who may pose threats to public safety, commit fraud, or have ties to terrorism or other crimes.
Where is the new vetting center located?
The vetting center will be headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and will serve as the main hub for the centralized screening and vetting process for immigration applications.
Why was the vetting center established?
The center was established in response to recent incidents emphasizing the need for better safeguards in our immigration system. Its purpose is to ensure national security and public safety by providing more thorough background checks and supplemental reviews of immigration applications.
How will the vetting center enhance security measures?
Our new vetting center will use both classified and nonclassified resources, integrate artificial intelligence technologies, and collaborate with various law enforcement and intelligence communities to provide a more comprehensive review of immigration applications and petitions.
Will the vetting center review previously approved immigration applications?
Yes, in addition to reviewing new and pending applications, the center will also provide a more holistic review of applications that have already been approved to ensure continued national security.
Which applicants will receive prioritized screening?
Applications and petitions from presidentially designated countries of concern will receive prioritized attention, especially if those countries have issues with issuing reliable identity documents or conducting effective criminal background checks.
What new technologies will be used in the vetting process?
The vetting center will implement state-of-the-art technologies, including artificial intelligence, to thoroughly review applications. This allows for a faster and more accurate identification of potential threats.
What other recent measures have been introduced to improve security?
Recent measures include a pause on affirmative asylum application decisions, hiring a record number of homeland defenders, ensuring more robust employment authorization screenings, and empowering USCIS special agents with new law enforcement authorities, among others.
How do these changes affect the immigration and naturalization process?
While processing times may be affected due to more thorough vetting, these changes are designed to reinforce the integrity and safety of our immigration system, protecting both existing residents and incoming applicants from security risks and fraud.
How can Wilner & O’Reilly assist with new vetting requirements?
Our law firm is fully informed on the latest changes and can guide you through the updated immigration processes, provide strategic advice, and help ensure your application is complete and compliant with the new screening measures implemented by the vetting center.
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