Jennifer Higgins is the new acting USCIS director

Jennifer B Higgins has been appointed as the acting USCIS director on Jan 20, 2025. Previously, she has served the role of USCIS deputy director since January 31, 2022.

Prior to this appointment, she served in a variety of leadership positions during her more than two decades of federal service, including serving as the acting chief of staff at DHS since September 2021 and the associate director for the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate (RAIO) from January 2017 to 2021.

Holding a master's degree in comparative politics, Higgins has been the recipient of several awards during her federal career that began in 1999.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) manages immigration benefits in the United States.

This includes processing applications for visas, citizenship, asylum, and more. USCIS also issues employment authorization documents (EADs).

In February 2022, USCIS had unveiled its new mission statement terming America as a ‘Nation of welcome and possibility’ for immigrants. The new mission statement was a stark contrast to the step taken by the Trump administration, which in February 2018, had deleted the reference to America being a ‘nation of immigrants’ from its mission statement.

Last Sept, USCIS also ushered in a new logo, which features The Statue of Liberty, with the inscription – Upholding America’s Promise. The earlier logo was the American seal depicting the bald eagle.

Immigration experts believe the Trump administration is likely to change the mission statement again to reflect its stand on immigration.