Rewrite of USCIS Mission Statement Cannot Change America’s Identity as a Nation of Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) expresses its deep disappointment at the Trump administration's rewrite of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) mission statement to, among other things, remove the phrase "a nation of immigrants."

"Removing words in the USCIS mission statement cannot change the proud history of our country whose success is owed to the immigrants who have contributed immensely to our society and have made America home," said Annaluisa Padilla, AILA President. She continued, "I am a proud American citizen. I am an immigrant. I am an immigration attorney, dedicated to upholding our most cherished principles. This latest insidious attempt by the Trump administration to diminish the valuable contributions that immigrants have made to our nation and our local communities will not turn Americans away from our most fundamental values."

Benjamin Johnson, AILA Executive Director added, "USCIS was created with a distinct purpose - the adjudication of naturalization applications, immigrant and nonimmigrant visa petitions, and asylum and refugee applications - enshrining in law our rich tradition as a nation of immigrants. America is a place that honors the contributions of immigrants and secures their place in our society. The Trump administration is bent on turning USCIS away from its core mission, and the core values that guide that mission. It is sad to see this attempt to rewrite that history and close our doors to the world. We will not let this change go unnoticed or ignored."

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.

Related Resources

• USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna Issues Statement on the New Agency Mission
• The Washington Post: Nation of immigrants? According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, not so much.
• The Intercept: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Will Remove "Nation of Immigrants" from Mission Statement
• Think Immigration: Mission Mis-Statements