The United States Creates a New Research Center to Strengthen Immigration Controls and Address Security Threats
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the creation of a specialized center that will enhance the capabilities of the immigration system to identify individuals who pose risks to national security, including terrorists, people with criminal histories, or applicants who have committed fraud. Located in Atlanta, this new unit will consolidate advanced verification processes and allow for faster responses to an ever-evolving threat landscape.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow emphasized that the agency’s role is more critical than ever, especially following recent violent incidents involving foreign nationals within the country. According to Edlow, this center will help strengthen national protection and improve review mechanisms. He also noted that under the current administration, a stricter security-focused approach has been restored after years in which—according to USCIS—processing speed was prioritized without fully considering its implications for national security.
Once operational, the center will use advanced investigative capabilities, cutting-edge technology—including artificial intelligence—and classified and unclassified databases to conduct more comprehensive reviews of immigration applications. It will also examine pending cases and reevaluate previously approved applications, with special attention to immigrants from countries designated as of interest by the president.
The creation of this unit is part of a series of actions aligned with Executive Order 14161, which seeks to strengthen the country’s protection against foreign threats. These measures include new evaluations based on country-specific factors, the temporary pause in affirmative asylum decisions, record hiring of personnel for immigration security, a regulatory proposal to improve background checks before renewing work permits, and the incorporation of USCIS special agents with law enforcement authority to investigate and prosecute immigration-related crimes.
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