FILE-People wait for their citizenship interviews at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), district office in New York City. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will form a police force to probe possible fraud in immigration applications.
The agency will recruit and train special agents to detect fraud in applications and have the authority to carry guns, execute search warrants, and arrest visa applicants who violate immigration laws, according to a USCIS release.
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USCIS stated in the release that the agency’s director has the authority to order expedited removal and investigate civil and criminal violations of the immigration laws under the agency’s authority.
Moreover, the USCIS can more efficiently clear its backlogs of individuals who attempt to commit immigration fraud, take specific measures, and remove them from the U.S.
“This historic moment will better address immigration crimes, hold those that perpetrate immigration fraud accountable, and act as a force multiplier for DHS and our federal law enforcement partners, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force,” USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow, said in a statement in an agency release.
What does the USCIS do?
Dig deeper:
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a release from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
