Profile of New Immigration Ombuds

On March 3, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security appointed Michael T. Dougherty as the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, filling the post vacated by the founding Ombuds, Prakash Khatri. A bio now available on the DHS website states that Dougherty served as Legislative Counsel on the personal staff of Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and also staffed the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security within the Senate Judiciary Committee. He assisted in the drafting and negotiation of the 2007 bipartisan immigration reform effort in the Senate. Dougherty previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for Immigration at the DHS, and worked as an attorney for the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney's Office and the Board of Immigration Appeals. In addition, Dougherty has served as an Administrative Judge for the U.S. Merit System Protection Board. He earned his B.A. from the Catholic University of America (1985) and J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America (1988). Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said:

Michael’s 15 years of policy and litigation experience and a deep understanding of immigration law will serve him well as CIS Ombudsman. In this capacity, Michael will identify areas for improvement in the communication individuals and employers have with USCIS and will recommend solutions that will mitigate identified problems. I’m grateful for Michael’s steadfast dedication to the American public, and I look forward to his leadership and many contributions as we further enhance immigration services.

(DHS; Chertoff Statement via ILW.com.)

Related posts: US Immigration Officials Rejects Ombuds' Reform Proposal; Immigration Ombuds Tenders Resignation; Corrected: New Immigration Ombuds Appointed.