Cuccinelli named acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan recently announced that Kenneth Cuccinelli has been named acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

USCIS administers the immigration system, adjudicating more than 8.7 million requests for immigration benefits in fiscal year 2018. The agency has 19,000 employees and contractors.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at this critical time and serve alongside this agency’s dedicated workforce,” Cuccinelli said. “USCIS has the extraordinary responsibility to administer and protect the integrity of our nation’s lawful immigration system. Our nation has the most generous legal immigration system in the world and we must zealously safeguard its promise for those who lawfully come here. I look forward to working with the men and women of USCIS to ensure our legal immigration system operates effectively and efficiently while deterring fraud and protecting the American people.”

Cuccinelli has degrees in law, international commerce and policy, and mechanical engineering. He was Virginia’s attorney general from 2010 to 2014 and a member of the Virginia Senate from 2002 to 2010. He has practiced law for nearly 25 years.

Cuccinelli’s new role went into effect this week. He replaces L. Francis Cissna.