I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2407 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 11, 2017 
Mr. GOODLATTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland 
Security, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Citizen-
ship and Immigration Services Authorization Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP 
AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. 
Section 451 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 271) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 451. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES CITIZEN-
SHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Department an agency to be known as ‘United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services’. The mission of 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is to 
efficiently adjudicate petitions and applications for immi-
gration benefits for foreign nationals seeking lawful immi-
gration status in the United States and for individuals 
seeking to become citizens of the United States in a man-
ner that detects and prevents fraud, protects the jobs and 
working conditions of American workers, and ensures the 
national security and welfare of the American people. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—There shall be at the head of 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services a Di-
rector of United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices (in this section referred to as the ‘Director’) who 
shall— 
‘‘(1) report directly to the Secretary; 
‘‘(2) have at least 5 years of management expe-
rience; 
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‘‘(3) establish the policies and priorities of 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; 
‘‘(4) advise the Secretary of any policy or oper-
ation that affects, in a significant manner, the mis-
sion of another Department component agency; 
‘‘(5) carry out the adjudication of immigration 
and naturalization benefits applications and petitions 
within the Director’s statutory authority; and 
‘‘(6) carry out further duties prescribed by stat-
ute, or as assigned or delegated by the Secretary, 
which are within the statutory authority of United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
‘‘(c) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—There shall be a Deputy 
Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration 
Services who shall assist the Director in carrying out the 
Director’s duties. 
‘‘(d) OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COUNSEL.—There is es-
tablished within United States Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services an Office of the Chief Counsel. There shall 
be at the head of the Office of the Chief Counsel a Chief 
Counsel who shall— 
‘‘(1) provide specialized legal advice, opinions, 
determinations, draft regulations, and other assist-
ance to the Director with respect to legal matters af-
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fecting United States Citizenship and Immigration 
Services; and 
‘‘(2) represent United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services in visa petition appeal pro-
ceedings when applicable. 
‘‘(e) OFFICE OF POLICY AND STRATEGY.—There is 
established within United States Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services an Office of Policy and Strategy. There shall 
be at the head of the Office of Policy and Strategy a Chief 
who shall— 
‘‘(1) develop United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services policy recommendations for the 
Director; 
‘‘(2) develop strategy for policy implementation; 
and 
‘‘(3) carry out additional duties as assigned or 
delegated by the Director, which are within the stat-
utory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(f) OFFICE OF CITIZENSHIP.—There is established 
within United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices an Office of Citizenship. There shall be at the head 
of the Office of Citizenship a Chief who shall— 
‘‘(1) promote instruction and training on citi-
zenship responsibilities, as well as assimilation, for 
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eligible aliens who are interested in becoming natu-
ralized citizens of the United States; and 
‘‘(2) carry out additional duties as assigned or 
delegated by the Director, which are within the stat-
utory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(g) FRAUD DETECTION AND NATIONAL SECURITY 
DIRECTORATE.—There is established within United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services a Fraud De-
tection and National Security Directorate. There shall be 
at the head of the Fraud Detection and National Security 
Directorate an Associate Director who shall seek to pre-
vent immigration benefits from being granted to individ-
uals who pose a threat to national security or public safe-
ty, or who defraud the immigration system, in a manner 
that is consistent with the immigration laws (as such term 
is defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))). 
‘‘(h) EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE.—There is 
established within United States Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services an External Affairs Directorate. There shall 
be at the head of the External Affairs Directorate an As-
sociate Director who shall— 
‘‘(1) oversee and coordinate official United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services commu-
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nications to both internal and external audiences, in-
cluding applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries of 
petitions for immigration benefits provided by 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
the legislative branch, and the general public; and 
‘‘(2) carry out additional duties as assigned or 
delegated by the Director, which are within the stat-
utory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(i) IMMIGRATION RECORDS AND IDENTITY SERV-
ICES DIRECTORATE.—There is established within United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services an Immigra-
tion Records and Identity Services Directorate. There 
shall be at the head of the Immigration Records and Iden-
tity Services Directorate an Associate Director who 
shall— 
‘‘(1) manage the operation of an employment 
eligibility verification system as provided for by sec-
tion 404 of the Illegal Immigration and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (U.S.C. 1324a note) or 
any successor system; 
‘‘(2) manage the operation of the Systematic 
Alien Verification for Entitlements Program, or its 
successor program, designed to assist Federal, State, 
and local benefit-issuing agencies, institutions, and 
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licensing agencies in determining the immigration 
status of benefit applicants so only those legally en-
titled to benefits receive them; 
‘‘(3) manage the biometric services provided to 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services 
components; 
‘‘(4) manage immigration records and provide 
information regarding such records to stakeholders; 
and 
‘‘(5) carry out further duties as assigned or del-
egated by the Director, which are within the statu-
tory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(j) FIELD OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE.—There is 
established within United States Citizenship and Immigra-
tion Services a Field Operations Directorate. There shall 
be at the head of the Field Operations Directorate an As-
sociate Director who shall— 
‘‘(1) oversee all United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services field offices; 
‘‘(2) oversee the adjudication of immigration 
benefits and naturalization applications and peti-
tions, applicant interviews, naturalization cere-
monies, and background checks for applicants, peti-
tioners, and beneficiaries of petitions for benefits; 
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‘‘(3) ensure the integrity of processing that oc-
curs at the field offices; and 
‘‘(4) carry out further duties as assigned or del-
egated by the Director, which are within the statu-
tory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
‘‘(k) REFUGEE, ASYLUM AND INTERNATIONAL OPER-
ATIONS
DIRECTORATE.—There is established within 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services a 
Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Direc-
torate. There shall be at the head of the Refugee, Asylum 
and International Operations Directorate an Associate Di-
rector who shall— 
‘‘(1) oversee refugee application adjudication 
and interviews; 
‘‘(2) oversee asylum application adjudication 
and interviews; 
‘‘(3) ensure the integrity of application proc-
essing that occurs under the Refugee, Asylum and 
International Operations Directorate’s authority; 
and 
‘‘(4) carry out further duties as assigned or del-
egated by the Director, which are within the statu-
tory authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services. 
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SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, all appellate functions of United States 
Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be carried out 
by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall estab-
lish a component within the Department of Homeland Se-
curity to carry out such functions. 
SEC. 4. REPEALED PROVISIONS. 
Sections 459, 460, and 461 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 276, 277, and 278) are repealed. 
SEC. 5. CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.—The 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101) is 
amended by striking ‘‘the Bureau of Citizenship and 
Immigration Services’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘United States Citizenship and Immigration 
Services’’. 
(2) HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002.—The 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101) is 
amended by striking ‘‘the Bureau of Citizenship and 
Immigration Services’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘United States Citizenship and Immigration 
Services’’. 
(3) TITLE 5.—Section 5314 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the Bureau of 
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Citizenship and Immigration Services’’ and inserting 
‘‘United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices’’. 
(4) INSPECTOR GENERAL ACT OF 1978.—Sub-
section (e) of section 8I of the Inspector General Act 
of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 8I) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices’’ and inserting ‘‘United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is 
amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to section 451 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘451. Establishment of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.’’; 
and 
(2) by striking the items relating to sections 
459, 460, and 461. 
SEC. 6. E-VERIFY PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION. 
Subsection (b) of section 401 of the Illegal Immigra-
tion Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended by striking the last sen-
tence. 
SEC. 7. TRANSPARENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Officials and employees of United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall act im-
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partially and may not give preferential treatment to any 
entity, organization, or individual in connection with the 
adjudication of any immigration benefit under the author-
ity of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
(b) IMPROPER
ACTIVITIES.—Activities that con-
stitute preferential treatment under subsection (a) shall 
include— 
(1) working on, or in any way attempting to in-
fluence, in a manner not available to or accorded to 
all other petitioners, applicants, and seekers of bene-
fits, the adjudication of immigration benefits under 
the authority of United States Citizenship and Im-
migration Services; and 
(2) meeting or communicating with persons as-
sociated with the entities described in paragraph (1), 
at the request of such persons, in a manner not 
available to or accorded to all other petitioners, ap-
plicants, or seekers of benefits, regarding the adju-
dication of immigration benefits under the authority 
of United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices. 
(c) REPORTING OF COMMUNICATIONS.— 
(1) WRITTEN COMMUNICATION.—Employees of 
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services 
shall include, in the record of proceeding for a case 
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under the authority of United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services, actual or electronic copies of 
all case-specific written communication, including e- 
mails, from government and private accounts, with 
non-Department persons or entities advocating for 
benefit applications or petitions under the authority 
of United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv-
ices that are pending on or after the date of the en-
actment of this Act (other than routine communica-
tions with other agencies of the Federal Government 
regarding the case, including communications involv-
ing background checks and litigation defense). 
(2) ORAL COMMUNICATION.—If substantive oral 
communication, including telephonic communication, 
virtual communication, and in-person meetings, 
takes place between officials of United States Citi-
zenship and Immigration Services and non-Depart-
ment persons or entities advocating for benefit appli-
cations or petitions under the authority of United 
States Citizenship and Immigration Services that 
are pending on or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act (other than routine communications with 
other agencies of the Federal Government regarding 
the case, including communications involving back-
ground checks and litigation defense)— 
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(A) the conversation shall be recorded; or 
(B) detailed minutes of the session shall be 
taken and included in the record of proceeding. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Director of 
United States Citizenship and Immigration 
Services, in the course of written or oral com-
munication described in this subsection, receives 
evidence about a specific case from anyone 
other than an affected party or his or her rep-
resentative (excluding Federal Government or 
law enforcement sources), such information may 
not be made part of the record of proceeding 
and may not be considered in adjudicative pro-
ceedings unless— 
(i) the affected party has been given 
notice of such evidence; and 
(ii) if such evidence is derogatory, the 
affected party has been given an oppor-
tunity to respond to the evidence. 
(B) INFORMATION
FROM
LAW
ENFORCE-
MENT, 
INTELLIGENCE
AGENCIES, 
OR
CON-
FIDENTIAL SOURCES.— 
(i) LAW
ENFORCEMENT
OR
INTEL-
LIGENCE
AGENCIES.—Evidence received 
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from law enforcement or intelligence agen-
cies may not be made part of the record of 
proceeding without the consent of the rel-
evant agency or law enforcement entity. 
(ii) WHISTLEBLOWERS, 
CONFIDEN-
TIAL SOURCES, OR INTELLIGENCE AGEN-
CIES.—Evidence received from whistle-
blowers, other confidential sources, or the 
intelligence community that is included in 
the record of proceeding and considered in 
adjudicative proceedings shall be handled 
in a manner that does not reveal the iden-
tity of the whistleblower or confidential 
source, or reveal classified information. 
(d) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No case-specific communica-
tion with persons or entities that are not part of the 
Department of Homeland Security may be consid-
ered in the adjudication of an application or petition 
under the authority of United States Citizenship and 
Immigration Services unless the communication is 
included in the record of proceeding of the case. 
(2) WAIVER.—The Director may waive the re-
quirement under paragraph (1) only in the interests 
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