CIS Ombudsman The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (OCIA Ombudsman) announced that four new regional offices in the United States will be established to serve immigrant communities and enhance outreach to U.S. officials. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What is the CIS Ombudsman?
The CIS Ombudsman is a non-profit office under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created by Congress in 2002. It serves only to help individuals resolve issues with USCIS. The office provides undercover support for individual immigration issues, flags problems, and makes recommendations to improve USCIS services.
New Regional Representatives
The CIS Ombudsman has appointed new regional reps in the following places:
- Los Angeles (Western Region)
- Dallas (Central Region)
- Boston (Northeast Region)
- Orlando (Southeast Region)
These local representatives will meet with immigrant communities in their communities, gather feedback, and partner with USCIS to help improve the agency. They will also tell you how immigrants can receive support for difficult or difficult immigration matters.
Where to Reach a Regional Manager?
Email is available if you have an immigration question or need to talk to a representative in your region. These are the contact information by region:
States/Territories Covered
- Contact Email
- Central Region
- Arizona (Yuma excluded), Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- CISOmbudsman.Central@hq.dhs.gov
Northeast Region
- Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
- CISOmbudsman.Northeast@hq.dhs.gov
Southeast Region
- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, DC.
- CISOmbudsman.Southeast@hq.dhs.gov
Western Region
- Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona (Yuma only), California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington.
- CISOmbudsman.Western@hq.dhs.gov
These agents will be available to make sure immigrants know their rights and get assistance with settling in. If you have an immigration case that requires a bit of extra guidance, talking to your regional representative might give you answers.
Responsibilities of Regional Representatives
The primary responsibilities of the CIS regional reps include:
- Engagement with Local Stakeholders: Building relationships with community organizations, legal service providers, and other stakeholders to gather insights about their experiences with USCIS.
- Identifying Issues: Helping to pinpoint problems that may be unique to certain areas or USCIS offices.
- Feedback Mechanism: Communicating local stakeholder feedback back to the CIS Ombudsman’s headquarters to inform policy recommendations aimed at improving USCIS operations.
- Public Awareness: Providing information about CIS Ombudsman services and clarifying processes for those seeking assistance.
What specific issues do the regional representatives help with
Regional representatives play a crucial role in addressing various issues that require coordination and collaboration across multiple jurisdictions. Their specific responsibilities include:
Key Functions of Regional Representatives
Facilitating Communication and Collaboration:
Regional representatives act as liaisons between local governments and other stakeholders, including businesses, labor organizations, and non-profits. This helps to foster communication and cooperation on regional issues that cannot be effectively managed at the local level.
Addressing Overlapping Issues:
They bring together local representatives to jointly tackle overlapping concerns, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to problem-solving while maintaining local control. This is particularly important for issues such as transportation, public safety, and economic development that span multiple jurisdictions.
Providing Technical Assistance:
Regional councils often assist smaller local governments that may lack the necessary staff or expertise for planning projects. This includes support in areas like zoning code review, mapping assistance, and conducting economic research.
Reviewing Funding Proposals:
Representatives evaluate state and federal funding proposals to ensure they align with regional needs and avoid duplication of efforts among local governments. This role is vital for securing resources for community projects.
Promoting Sustainable Development:
They engage in interregional cooperation to address broader challenges such as environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, and resource management. This involves integrating policies across regions to tackle issues that transcend local boundaries.
Building Partnerships:
Regional representatives are adept at creating partnerships among various stakeholders, which can enhance regional capacity to respond to challenges effectively.
Enhancing Local Representation:
By engaging with constituents and understanding their needs, regional representatives can advocate for policies that reflect the interests of their communities while also facilitating a connection between citizens and government.
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