OMBUDSMAN ESSENTIALSCIS OMBUDSMAN Office - Washington, D.C.

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CIS OMBUDSMAN

Created by Homeland Security Act §452 Mission: assist individuals and employers in

resolving problems with USCIS (Case Unit); Identify systemic problems with access to

immigration services and make recommendations.

Recommendations: see www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman

Teleconferences, updates, negotiations, conferences, liaison to problem solve

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Ombuds Essentials -- Toolbox Ombuds use a toolbox of resources to

resolve individual and systemic issues: Facilitation Mediation (use of mediation skills w/o

mediation) Training Outreach Oral and written reporting

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Ombuds Tenets

Independence Impartiality (Neutrality) Confidentiality Informality

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Ombuds Tenets -- Independence We do not report to USCIS, they do not

report to us Separate component, at HQ level – CIS Ombudsman answers directly to

Congress and the Deputy Secretary of DHS

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Ombuds Tenets -- Impartiality Provides confidence to public/USCIS in

our work “Advocate for a fair process” Look at all sides

Individual cases Systemic Issues

Attorney/representative is not always right, agency is not always right

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Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Gives confidence to share with the

ombuds Enables us to look at trends others might

not see No repercussions to sharing information

with ombuds

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Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Individual Cases

Approaching the ombuds is confidential Form 7001/G-28– permission to share with

USCIS CISOMB must request additional permission

to share with media, other agencies, other components the public, other family members

Public materials (Annual Report, newsletters, etc.) -- no identifying information unless have permission of individual

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Ombuds Tenets -- Confidentiality Stakeholders

An ombuds does not attach a specific viewpoint or observation to a specific stakeholder in the ombuds’ written or oral reporting

Permission is required to share the above

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Ombuds Tenets -- Informality Resolve informally, before litigation If in litigation, we do not participate

publicly Ombuds does not replace formal

channels – parallel tracks

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Ombuds Essentials -- What else? Ombuds serves as early warning system

for entity Ombuds recommends systemic changes,

can’t require them Contacting ombuds does not stay

statutory, regulatory, or other agency timeframes

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CIS OMBUDSMAN – Contacts cisombudsman@dhs.gov Form 7001 for individual cases at

www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman, or can use on – line

Peggy Gleason, Senior Advisor on Family Based Immigration margaret.gleason@dhs.gov

Humanitarian Sr. Advisor rena.cutlip-mason@dhs.gov

Employment Sr. Advisor frederick.troncone@dhs.gov

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Ombudsman Office Recommendations Read at www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman Employment Authorization for Asylum

applicants Deferred Action Customer Complaints to USCIS Special Immigrant Juvenile Adjudications I-601 Waivers Future Topics: your suggestions

here_________

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Ombudsman Annual Conference October 18, 2012 – DC National

Archives Six panels with government and

stakeholder representatives on employment, family-based and humanitarian immigration issues

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Ombudsman Teleconferences Asylum Process for Unaccompanied Minors U Visas: USCIS/DOS Coordination Small Business Immigration Issues Status Verification Systems at USCIS: SAVE Survivor Benefits under new INA Sec. 204(l) Family-Based Visa Retrogression: DOS/NVC Nov: Change of Address and Mailing Issues Infopass and Access to Local Offices

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CIS Ombudsman – Questions?

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