Laura Patching, Acting Chief, Office of Citizenship

Laura Patching is the Acting Chief of the Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  In this capacity she leads federal initiatives to promote immigrant civic integration and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.  Ms. Patching oversees the development of educational resources, training and outreach initiatives, and agency engagement with governmental, non-governmental, and international institutions on immigrant integration.

Ms. Patching joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 2001 and helped manage the Service’s transition into USCIS after the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.   Ms. Patching has been part of the Office of Citizenship since it was created at that time to provide new resources to immigrants and communities.   She managed the creation of the landmark publication, Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants and well as the USCIS Civics Flash Cards and Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons.

Prior to beginning her career with the United States Government, Ms. Patching served in several positions in the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs both in Washington, DC and Santiago, Chile.

Ms. Patching received her Bachelor of Arts from American University in Washington, DC and a post-graduate diploma from the University of Chile’s Institute for International Studies in Santiago, Chile.