What Director Rodriguez Said In Pittsburgh

USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez met with a group of immigration attorneys, non-profit and community leaders in Pittsburgh as part of a "Welcoming Pittsburgh" event earlier this week. Mr. Rodriguez, who once lived in Pittsburgh, captivated attendees with a discussion of the current state of US Immigration law and practice, as well as the challenges facing his Department and the immigrant community in the wake of 5^th Circuit decision enjoining the DAPA and DACA extensions of President Obama's Immigration Executive Action.

Director Rodriguez was realistic about the challenges his agency faces, but was steadfast in his aim for improvement. He devotes significant time to community development and encourages the cooperation of local USCIS offices and community leaders to help immigrants adjust, live, apply for status, and ultimately thrive. Through these efforts, Rodriguez emphasized his Department's current encouragement that immigrants naturalize. He discussed how soon the