Kenneth Cuccinelli Appointed Acting Citizenship & Immigration Services Director

Kenneth Cuccinelli, former attorney general of Virginia, has been named acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security.

“I look forward to working with the men and women of USCIS to ensure our legal immigration system operates effectively and efficiently while deterring fraud and protecting the American people,” Cuccinelli said in a statement published Monday. 

Acting DHS Secretary and 2018 Wash100 Award recipient Kevin McAleenan announced Cuccinelli’s appointment Monday. Cuccinelli will oversee an agency with about 19,000 employees and contractors who manage the country’s immigration system to ensure national security and protect citizens. Reports emerged in May about President Trump’s plan to nominate Cuccinelli for the USCIS director post.