Director Mayorkas Announces Office of Public Engagement
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas today announced the creation of the USCIS Office of Public Engagement (OPE) to focus on open, candid and constructive collaboration with immigration community stakeholders at all levels.
“Public service is our mission,” said Director Mayorkas. “The Office of Public Engagement will more actively and ably elicit the views of those whom we serve, and will enable us to better collaborate with them as our agency develops and administers policies that further our mission.”
The new office will be responsible for community engagement, intergovernmental affairs and protocol. Community engagement will help inform and shape agency guidelines and priorities by institutionalizing a robust interaction with stakeholders; the integration of the intergovernmental affairs portfolio will enhance the agency’s ability to interact with local, state, and federal government officials.
Director Mayorkas also announced that Mariela Melero will serve as OPE’s first Director. “Mariela has served at USCIS for more than twenty years, and she has a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, our mission and its importance to the vitality of our nation,” said Director Mayorkas.
The Office of Public Engagement will report directly to Director Mayorkas and reflects his commitment to ensure active and direct outreach and coordination with all stakeholders.
Following the creation of the Office of Public Engagement, Director Mayorkas will hold a series of community stakeholder meetings throughout the nation to ensure that the dialogue the Agency holds, as part of its day to day life, has roots beyond Washington, D.C. and are firmly planted everywhere USCIS performs its work.
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