Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on the Resignation of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

Release Date: February 15, 2008

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

I have been informed by Prakash Khatri, the department’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Ombudsman, of his resignation and plans to return to the private sector. As the nation’s first USCIS Ombudsman, Prakash devoted his energy and talent to streamlining the process by which we provide important immigration services and benefits to individuals and employers ranging from citizenship, lawful permanent residency, employment authorization, adoptions, asylum and refugee status, and foreign student authorization.

Since his appointment in July 2003, the department has relied on Prakash’s executive leadership and vision as he produced more than 70 formal recommendations and numerous informal recommendations to improve the nation’s immigration benefits process. I thank Prakash for his advice and sound analysis on numerous immigration reform initiatives and wish him well in the future.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on February 15, 2008.