Jennifer B Higgins Named Acting USCIS Director Amid Immigration Policy Shifts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jennifer B Higgins was appointed as the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Jan. 20, 2025, marking a significant leadership change in the agency responsible for managing immigration benefits in the United States. Higgins, who previously served as USCIS deputy director since Jan. 31, 2022, brings over two decades of federal service experience to the role.

Higgins has held various leadership positions, including acting chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since September 2021 and associate director for the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate (RAIO) from January 2017 to 2021. A recipient of multiple awards during her federal career, Higgins holds a master’s degree in comparative politics and has been a key figure in shaping U.S. immigration policy.

USCIS, which oversees visa applications, citizenship processes, asylum requests, and employment authorization documents, has undergone significant changes in recent years. In February 2022, the agency updated its mission statement to describe America as a “Nation of welcome and possibility,” a shift from the Trump administration’s 2018 decision to remove the phrase “nation of immigrants” from its mission statement.

Last September, USCIS also introduced a new logo featuring the Statue of Liberty with the inscription “Upholding America’s Promise,” replacing the previous logo of the American seal with a bald eagle. These changes reflect the agency’s efforts to adopt a more inclusive stance toward immigrants.

Immigration experts speculate that future administrations may revisit these changes to align with their policy priorities. Lubna Kably, a senior editor specializing in immigration and tax policies, noted that the Indian diaspora, the largest in the world, closely monitors such developments for their impact on students, job seekers, and employees abroad.

Higgins’ appointment comes at a pivotal time for USCIS as it navigates evolving immigration policies and strives to uphold its mission of welcoming immigrants to the United States.