AILA: USCIS Needs to Give Meaning to the Words of Its New Mission Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) applauded the Biden administration’s rewrite of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) mission statement which clearly signals a more welcoming and respectful attitude towards immigrants and recognition of the importance of immigration to America’s success.

AILA President Allen Orr stated, “Words are important. In this case, the words in the new USCIS mission statement make clear that our nation acknowledges what is owed to the immigrants who have contributed immensely to our society and have made America home. For years, AILA and our members have questioned the changes made by the previous administration which undermined and devalued immigrants. As an immigration attorney, dedicated to helping those who seek to come and contribute to our shared prosperity, I welcome this new mission statement.”

Benjamin Johnson, AILA Executive Director added, “When USCIS was created, its statutory purpose was clear: to adjudicate immigration benefit applications for those seeking citizenship, temporary status, work authorization, and humanitarian protection efficiently, fairly and timely. We have seen the backlogs grow and the bureaucratic hurdles pile up as the agency’s attention was turned away from its core purpose. This new mission statement hopefully signals a return to a welcoming, service-driven USCIS that faithfully administers its statutory purpose with integrity as we all work towards a future made brighter by all those seeking to pursue the American dream and help our communities and economy prosper.”

Cite as AILA Doc. No. 22020906.