DHS News Releases

DHS Takes Action to Combat Forced Labor and Hold Companies Accountable for Exploiting Workers

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:27:28 -0500

Issues Withhold Release Order and Two Forced Labor Findings on Companies Exploiting Workers

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new Withhold Release Order and two new forced labor Findings. By barring goods produced with forced labor from entering the United States, the Department is playing a critical role in protecting human rights and enforcing international labor standards. This week, Secretary Mayorkas also announced that he has designated the DHS Chief Procurement Officer as the Department’s Senior Accountable Official to prevent forced labor and other forms of human trafficking in all DHS contracts and acquisitions.

“The dedicated CBP workforce has again taken significant action to combat forced labor and protect the human rights of workers around the world,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Today’s Withhold Release Order and Forced Labor Findings are another important step toward ending these abhorrent practices. We will continue to leverage all of our authorities and resources to bar goods produced with forced labor from entering the United States, and with my designation earlier this week of a Senior Accountable Official to prevent human trafficking in DHS contracts, we are leading efforts to ensure that no taxpayer dollars are ever used to purchase goods or services that rely on forced labor.”

“CBP is entering the new year with a renewed commitment to investigating and enforcing the U.S. prohibition against importing goods made with forced labor,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus. “We will again dedicate significant resources to rooting out the evil and inhumane practices of forced labor.”

Effective today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists at all U.S. ports of entry will detain disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by YTY Industry Holdings Sdn Bhd (YTY Group), including YTY Industry Sdn Bhd, Green Prospect Sdn Bhd, and GP Lumut.

CBP issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against YTY Group based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in YTY Group’s manufacturing operations. CBP identified seven of the International Labour Organization’s eleven indicators of forced labor during its investigation: abuse of vulnerability, deception, retention of identity documents, intimidation and threats, debt bondage, abusive working and living conditions, and excessive overtime.

CBP today also announced two new forced labor Findings. Effective immediately, CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will seize palm oil and merchandise containing palm oil traceable to the Malaysian company Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (Sime Darby), including its subsidiaries and joint ventures. CBP will also seize seafood harvested by the Vanuatu-flagged fishing vessel, Da Wang, which is owned and operated by the Taiwanese company Yong Feng Fishery Ltd.

CBP determined that Sime Darby and Da Wang use forced labor in their operations, and that both companies’ goods are being, or are likely to be, imported into the United States. CBP’s investigations found evidence of all 11 of the International Labour Organization’s forced labor indicators on the Da Wang vessel and Sime Darby Plantation’s palm oil plantations. CBP published both forced labor Findings in the Customs Bulletin and the Federal Register. All forced labor enforcement actions are publicly available and listed by country on CBP’s Forced Labor Withhold Release Orders and Findings page.

The DHS Chief Procurement Officer, as the Department’s Senior Accountable Official for preventing human trafficking in DHS contracts and acquisitions, will be responsible for ensuring effective implementation of anti-trafficking rules and best practices. These practices include information sharing and tracking, contracting officer trainings, suspension and debarment actions, and criminal referrals.

CBP is a critical component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), a cross-Department coordination center for countering sex trafficking and forced labor, including the importation of goods produced with forced labor. Its mission is to advance counter-human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims, and enhance prevention efforts by aligning DHS’s capabilities and expertise. Visit the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking to learn more about our Department-wide efforts to combat human trafficking.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:15:07 -0500

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement and video on International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“When you walked into the home where I grew up, our living room shelves were filled with books of Jewish history and, regrettably and all too often tragically, histories and stories of antisemitism and violence that accompanied it.

“My mother had lived this history. As a girl, she and her parents fled from Romania to France, and on to Cuba, because they could not make it safely to Israel or the United States. Her father lost his parents, brothers, and other family members in the Holocaust. Through the years in the United States, my mother stayed in touch with her two cousins who survived the camps and had made it to Israel alone.

“Our home was deeply rooted in my mother’s experience of the Holocaust and the fragility of our safety, wherever we might live in the world. As you might expect, my mother’s childhood profoundly shaped her approach to a young child away from home through the night. When our fellow elementary school students went to sleepaway camps and had sleepovers with friends, my siblings and I did not. My mother taught us the meaning and experience of independence in different ways.

“She also taught us three foundational principles that defined for her the scourge of antisemitism and other ideologies of hate. First, their existence manifests in ways that we readily can see, but also lies more widely beneath the surface, often undetected in the day-to-day goings-on of life but sometimes appearing in the most subtle of ways. Second, their prevalence continues to present an existential threat, and one can never assume that a holocaust could not happen again and could not happen where we, her children, might live. And third, that an attack borne of hate against one minority is an attack against all of society.

“I am proud to work in the Department of Homeland Security, where every day we fight against hate and to improve the quality of life for others. We are doing a great deal to equip and empower communities across our country in that fight. Partnership in these efforts is all the more important today, as the manifestation of hate through violence is on the rise everywhere. Together with our partners, we give limitless strength to our devotion to tolerance and basic human rights.

“Holocaust Remembrance Day is recognized one day each year. We know that remembrance is every day, as is the work that must accompany it.

“Today, if you walk into the living room of the home where I was brought up and where my brother is now raising his young family, our mother’s collection of books of Jewish history, including the antisemitism that defined too much of it, is still on the shelves. This year, as we devote a day to remembrance, let’s redouble our efforts to create the book that captures the end of that hate.”

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Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS Announces Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for First Half of Fiscal Year

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 09:19:11 -0500

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the availability of 20,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas are for U.S. employers that are facing irreparable harm without additional workers and seeking to employ additional workers on or before March 31, 2022.

“DHS is taking action to address the needs of our economy by making an additional 20,000 H-2B visas available to workers,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “We are providing employers with the resources and support needed to sustain their businesses while expanding lawful pathways to the United States. At the same time, DHS and DOL are protecting against the exploitation of H-2B workers.”

This supplemental cap increase, which comes at a time of record job growth and reduced labor force participation, marks the first time that DHS is making additional H-2B visas available in the first half of the fiscal year. DHS first announced the joint temporary final rule in December 2021. The additional H-2B visas will become available to employers on January 28, 2022.

The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 13,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 6,500 visas, which are exempt from the returning worker requirement, are reserved for nationals of Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal, or intermittent need. Employers seeking to hire H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must provide certification from the Department of Labor that proves there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing the H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Additional details on these safeguards, and on eligibility and filing requirements, will be available in the temporary final rule and the Cap Count for H-2B Nonimmigrants webpage.

The joint temporary final rule can be found in the Federal Register.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Visa
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secretary of Homeland Security

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Camp Atterbury, Indiana

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 22:31:26 -0500

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Camp Atterbury, Indiana is the fifth of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals, also known as “safe havens,” to complete operations. To date, more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across the country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“As operations at Camp Atterbury come to an end, we are grateful for the partnerships that state and local leaders, the Indiana National Guard, non-profit organizations, and Hoosiers across the state have forged with our team as we helped our Afghan allies through the resettlement process,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “Over the last five months, through a whole-of-society effort, Operation Allies Welcome has helped more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees begin their new lives in America.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 9,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following three military installations: Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“I am incredibly proud of the military men and women and the entire interagency team who enabled the resettlement of approximately 7,200 Afghan guests who temporarily resided at Task Force Atterbury,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “Over the past five months, our service members at this and seven other military installations provided essential support to Operation Allies Welcome, ensuring Afghan nationals had what they needed while they completed resettlement requirements and prepared to transition to their new communities across America. As Task Force Atterbury concludes its support to this operation, our service members and the entire team should take pride in the professionalism, dedication, and empathy they demonstrated throughout the mission.”

As of January 27, the U.S. has welcomed more than 76,000 Afghans to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, providing them with support and assistance as they begin their new lives in America – and we are prepared to welcome additional qualifying Afghans over the coming weeks and months. Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from multiple federal agencies. Afghan evacuees also receive critical vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, COVID-19, and others – as a condition of their humanitarian parole. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19.

Those who are interested in supporting the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans can go to www.welcome.us to learn more about how to get involved. Welcome.US is a national non-profit initiative to welcome and support Afghan nationals as they rebuild their lives in communities across America. Groups of individuals and community organizations can also apply to form a sponsor circle to directly support arriving Afghan evacuees. For more information on the Sponsor Circle Program and to learn how to apply to form a sponsor circle, visit www.sponsorcircles.org.

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Operation Allies Welcome is the coordinated effort across the federal government to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States. For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/allieswelcome.

Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 22:29:56 -0500

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Holloman AFB, New Mexico is the fourth of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals, also known as “safe havens,” to complete operations. To date, more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across the country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“With the completion of operations at Holloman AFB, we have now helped more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees begin their new lives in the United States,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “I am grateful for all the federal staff, servicemembers, volunteers, and local partners who have participated in this historic effort and for the countless Americans who are welcoming our Afghan allies into their communities.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 9,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following four military installations: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“I applaud the military men and women and the entire interagency team who enabled the resettlement of the more than 7,100 Afghan guests who were temporarily housed and cared for at Task Force Holloman,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “Since the beginning of Operation Allies Welcome, service members at this and seven other military installations provided essential support, ensuring Afghan nationals had safe and secure conditions while they completed resettlement requirements and prepared to transition to their new communities across America. As Task Force Holloman concludes its support to the operation, the service members and the entire team should take great pride in all they accomplished.”

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Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:58:06 -0500

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month:

“Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime that impacts an estimated 25 million people, here in the United States and abroad. Victims too often suffer in silence and perpetrators are too seldom brought to justice. National Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a time to reaffirm the Department’s commitment to seeing those victims, hearing their stories, and preventing the horrific acts of human trafficking before they occur. We will bring the full weight of the Department of Homeland Security – our resources and our dedicated personnel – to identify and protect victims and to investigate and arrest perpetrators.

“Across DHS, our tremendous professionals lead this work each day.

The DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking leverages the resources of 16 DHS Agencies and Offices to combat both sex trafficking and forced labor.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents investigate these crimes and help prosecute the perpetrators.
The HSI Victim Assistance Program supports victims with critical emergency assistance and connects victims with non-governmental organizations that provide short- and long-term direct services.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigates allegations of forced labor in U.S. supply chains and bars goods made with forced labor from entering the country.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers educates law enforcement about the indicators of trafficking and best practices for supporting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
We raise awareness about these heinous crimes through our signature public awareness and education campaign, the DHS Blue Campaign, and our partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, businesses, airlines, schools, non-profits, legal organizations, and many others.
Finally, and critically, DHS personnel are trained to recognize and report indicators of human trafficking in the course of their daily duties interacting with the public, including Transportation Security Administration officers, Federal Air Marshals, service members of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services benefits adjudicators, and more.

“Combating human trafficking is truly a whole of DHS effort.

“During this past year, HSI Special Agents made more than 2,360 human trafficking arrests, identified and assisted more than 728 trafficking victims, and issued the first-ever comprehensive Continued Presence Resource Guide. USCIS released the first-ever standalone T Visa Resource Guide for law enforcement and certifying agencies, and approved 559 T visas for victims of trafficking and 451 T visas for their qualifying family members. CBP detained and seized more than 1,550 shipments containing nearly $500 million in merchandise linked to forced labor abroad, a 900 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2020.

“Last year, I directed all DHS Agencies and Offices to incorporate a victim-centered approach into every policy, program, and activity that impacts our Department’s interactions with victims of crime. I also released a worksite enforcement strategy that focuses our enforcement efforts on unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers, including through force, fraud, or coercion. We can, must, and will do more.

“The scourge of human trafficking must be met with concerted action. This month and every month, our Department will strive to shine a light on these heinous acts, protect the dignity of survivors, and bring perpetrators of human trafficking to justice.”

To report suspected human trafficking to DHS law enforcement, contact 1-866-347-2423.

To seek help or learn more from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, contact 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Learn more about DHS’s efforts to combat human trafficking and in a new Department-wide fact sheet.

Keywords: Blue Campaign, Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), Combatting Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Human Trafficking

Readout of Secretaries Mayorkas and Cardona’s Meeting with HBCU Presidents on International Day of Education

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:21:06 -0500

WASHINGTON – Today, on International Day of Education, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona hosted a discussion with presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from across the nation to share information on grant programs, training resources, research opportunities, and other tools available to HBCUs to strengthen campus safety and security. The meeting was part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to ensure HBCUs have equitable access to the resources and support they need to effectively execute their critical missions.

“The Department of Homeland Security is eager to deepen our partnerships with HBCUs to protect students and faculty from an evolving range of threats, and to cultivate the next generation of remarkable talent, including by increasing access to careers in the federal government,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “I appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with more than 40 HBCU presidents who lead these tremendous institutions. Together, we will embrace the opportunities and address the challenges of our time.”

“To do their best learning, students must be able to focus on their education without fear or distraction. Acts of intimidation against HBCUs can’t and won’t be tolerated,” said Secretary Cardona. “I am pleased Secretary Mayorkas and his team at the Department of Homeland Security are focused on partnerships with HBCU leaders to equip them with the tools to protect their campuses, students, and communities.”

During today’s meeting, the Department of Homeland Security also provided a briefing on the evolving threat landscape, including potential impacts on colleges and universities. The Department of Homeland Security does not have information indicating any specific, credible threats to campus safety. Leaders from DHS’s Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, the Office of Intelligence & Analysis, and the Office of Partnerships & Engagement, and the Department of Education’s Office of the Secretary participated in today’s engagement.

Keywords: Partnership, Physical Security, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Academic Engagement, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS Helps Law Enforcement Spot and Respond to Human Trafficking

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:21:52 -0500

Hosts Awareness Training for State and Local Law Enforcement Officers in Gainesville, Florida

WASHINGTON - On Thursday, January 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) hosted state and local law enforcement officers from the Gainesville, FL area for a Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT). The HTAT program provides law enforcement officers with an in-depth understanding of the crime of human trafficking. The training consists of case studies, videos, and student-centered activities to enhance the learning experience and helps stress the importance of taking a victim-centered approach.

“FLETC’s work with local law enforcement across the country is essential to ensuring that law enforcement can identify and support victims and work to prevent the horrific crime of human trafficking,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “These trainings are just one part of our whole-of-DHS approach to combating human trafficking. DHS Agencies and Offices work to shine a light on these terrible crimes, investigate and help prosecute traffickers, and provide support and necessary services to victims.”

More than 30 local law enforcement officers participated in the training, which was hosted by the Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL, and featured Florida-based counter-trafficking experts and resources.

“When FLETC developed this class, we prioritized incorporating a diverse panel of experts, including federal, state, or local prosecutors, survivors, and other experts,” said FLETC Deputy Director William Fallon. “The goal is for everyone attending to hear from both local experts and federal investigators, including from ICE Homeland Security Investigations, about their experience and expertise in combating human trafficking.”

FLETC began developing training on the signs and indicators of human trafficking in late 2009. In 2015, FLETC began incorporating human trafficking awareness training into its basic programs for all new federal law enforcement officers and agents. In 2019, FLETC completed the development of its introductory HTAT program.

A component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FLETC provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently. Through strategic partnerships, FLETC prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard the American people, property, and institutions.

To report suspected human trafficking to DHS law enforcement, contact 1-866-347-2423. To seek help or learn more from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, contact 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). Read more about DHS’s work to combat human trafficking here: DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking

DHS Conducts Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers in Gainesville, Florida (DHS Photo by FLETC/Released)

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DHS Conducts Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers in Gainesville, Florida (DHS Photo by FLETC/Released)

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Keywords: Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS Advances Biden-Harris Efforts to Stop Flow of Goods Produced by Forced Labor

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 07:50:38 -0500

Requests Public Input to Implement Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and Block Importation of Goods Produced by Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced, as part of its implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), that it will seek public input to inform the Department’s continued efforts to prohibit goods from being imported into the United States that are produced with forced labor in the People’s Republic of China, including in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

“As part of our efforts to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority to eradicate forced labor from U.S. supply chains, we are taking an important first step today to implement the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Every day, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection ensures that goods made with forced labor are not able to enter the U.S. supply chain, and I am proud to work alongside the world’s leading forced labor investigators in their mission to protect human rights and international labor standards. I look forward to hearing from our stakeholders as we continue to work closely to protect our vital trade ecosystem and end these horrific practices around the world.”

The UFLPA prohibits goods from being imported into the United States that are either produced in China’s Xinjiang province or by certain entities identified in the forthcoming UFLPA enforcement strategy, unless the importer can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the goods were not produced with forced labor. After receiving comments, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will conduct a public hearing and develop a strategy for supporting enforcement of section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue guidance for importers.

DHS is focused on combating the horrific practices of sex trafficking and forced labor through close partnerships with stakeholders, information sharing, and enforcement actions. As part of the Department’s victim-centered approach, DHS agencies, offices, and experts are committed to providing support and necessary services to victims and seeking justice on their behalf. The Department, through its Blue Campaign, also continues to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize and report the indicators of human trafficking. Read more about DHS’s work on human trafficking and forced labor here: DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking

The request for public comment published in the Federal Register today, January 24, 2022. Comments will be accepted for 45 days. Individuals may submit comments by following the instructions in the Federal Register notice.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS Expands Opportunities in U.S. for STEM Professionals

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 07:57:17 -0500

Department adds Twenty-Two New Fields of Study and Takes Additional Steps to Attract Critical STEM Talent

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced 22 new fields of study have been added to the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to enhance the contributions of nonimmigrant students studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and support the growth of the U.S. economy and innovation.

“STEM innovation allows us to solve the complex challenges we face today and make a difference in how we secure and protect our country,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Through STEM education and training opportunities, DHS is expanding the number and diversity of students who excel in STEM education and contribute to the U.S. economy.”

The STEM OPT program permits F-1 students earning bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in certain STEM fields to remain in the United States for up to 36 months to work in their field of study. Adding 22 fields of study will ensure the U.S. economy benefits from students earning degrees in the United States in competitive STEM fields. Information on the new fields of study will be communicated to schools and students through a Federal Register notice.

DHS is also updating and issuing new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy manual guidance. USCIS is updating guidance to clarify how certain STEM graduates and entrepreneurs can use the national interest waiver for employment-based immigrant visa classification as an advanced degree professional noncitizen or noncitizen of exceptional ability.

Certain noncitizens with an advanced degree or exceptional ability can self-petition for employment-based immigrant visa classification, without testing the labor market and obtaining certification from the Department of Labor, if USCIS determines the waiver of the labor market test to be in the national interest. The updated guidance clarifies how to use the program, making it easier for noncitizens with needed skills, such as STEM graduates and entrepreneurs, to embark on a pathway to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

USCIS is also issuing a policy manual update related to O-1A nonimmigrant status for noncitizens of extraordinary ability in the fields of science, arts, education, business, or athletics. This update explains how USCIS determines eligibility for O-1A petitioners and, for the first time, provides examples of evidence that might satisfy the criteria, including for individuals working in STEM fields.

The 22 new fields of study are bioenergy, general forestry, forest resources production and management, human-centered technology design, cloud computing, anthrozoology, climate science, earth systems science, economics and computer science, environmental geosciences, geobiology, geography and environmental studies, mathematical economics, mathematics and atmospheric and oceanic science, general data science, general data analytics, business analytics, data visualization, financial analytics, other data analytics, industrial and organizational psychology, and social sciences, research methodology, and quantitative methods.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, STEM, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secretary of Homeland Security