On May 26, 2019, L. Francis Cissna, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) since October 2017, submitted his resignation “at the request of the President,” effective June 1, 2019. In an email, Mr. Cissna thanked USCIS staff and said, “As an immigration law and policy professional dedicated to the rule of law like so many of you, I appreciate that this opportunity to serve was a unique experience.”

The move follows the ouster of other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials last month, including DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Secret Service Director Randolph “Tex” Alles. A replacement for Mr. Cissna has not yet been announced. According to reports, Ken Cuccinelli, former Virginia Attorney General, is at the top of the list, and the move is part of a White House effort to go in a “tougher direction.”

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