The United States Senate confirmed the appointment of Julie Myers as the Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") on December 19, 2007.  ICE was created in March 2003 after 9/11 by combining the law enforcement branches of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the former U.S. Customs Service.  ICE is responsible for the investigation, arrest and detention of individuals who violate the immigration laws of the United States.  Ms. Myers was nominated by President Bush on June 30, 2005 as the secretary of ICE.  Since the full Senate did not vote on Ms. Myers nomination President Bush issued her a recess appointment on January 4, 2006 to January 3, 2007 and then re-nominated her to the position on January 9, 2007.

USCIS ISSUES MEMORANDUM AUTHORIZING ASYLUM OFFICES TO KEEP FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS

By memorandum dated November 30, 2007 Lynden Melmed, Chief Counsel, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), states that USCIS Asylum Officers adjudicating an application submitted by an immigrant seeking political asylum in the United States may take possession of a document at the asylum interview if the Officer suspects that the document is not authentic.  If the Officer decides to keep the document in order to verify its authenticity the Officer is required to issue the immigrant a receipt for the document.  The receipt must acknowledge the fact that USCIS has possession of the document, the reason why the document is being retained by USCIS and must also include a point of contact at the Asylum Office so that the immigrant can follow up on the status of the review of the document.  In the event that USCIS determines that the document is authentic USCIS is required to promptly return the document to the immigrant.  If USCIS determines that the document is fraudulent or a forgery then the document can be used against the immigrant for criminal and/or deportation proceedings.