Presidents’ Alliance Letter Supporting the Nomination of Ur Jaddou for USCIS Director

Presidents’ Alliance Letter Supporting the Nomination of Ur Jaddou for USCIS Director

May 26, 2021

Dear Chairman Durbin, Ranking Member Grassley, and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

On behalf of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, we write to express our strong support for the nomination of Ur Jaddou for Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Based on Ms. Jaddou’s extensive professional experiences, far-ranging expertise, and her thoughtful collaborations with immigration stakeholders, including the Presidents’ Alliance, we know Ms. Jaddou is eminently qualified in immigration policy and will lead USCIS in the right direction throughout this new administration’s tenure. Consequently, we urge that the Senate Judiciary Committee act to confirm her as quickly as possible.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan Presidents’ Alliance brings college and university leaders together around the immigration issues that impact our students, campuses, communities, and nation. We work to advance just immigration policies and practices at federal, state and institutional levels that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness.  We now are over 500 members strong, presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, serving over 5 million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Ms. Jaddou has approximately two decades of experience with the issues surrounding immigration policy. Her extensive experience includes participating in the Presidents’ Alliance’s Legal Advisory Council (LAC), where she provided technical and legal feedback to immigration priorities, documents, and recommendations from the Presidents’ Alliance (participation on the Council did not constitute endorsement of the Alliance priorities). Ms. Jaddou has worked as a professor at American University’s Washington College of Law. Ms. Jaddou’s first-hand familiarity with the intersection of higher education and immigration means that her nomination is critical in reopening pathways of communication between DHS and the higher education community.

Additionally, Ms. Jaddou collaborated with Representative Zoe Lofgren and the House Immigration Subcommittee, so she is well-versed in working with Congress to pursue equitable policies in the administration of our nation’s immigration laws. Furthermore, Ms. Jaddou’s managerial experience will enable her to oversee and run USCIS effectively. Her experience in executive work includes her former position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of State’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs and her later tenure as USCIS’ Chief Counsel, both of which indicate her prowess in managing departments and implementing immigration law and policy.

Ms. Jaddou is exceptionally qualified to lead USCIS under this new administration, and her confirmation will enable USCIS to face the challenges before it in 2021. As an excellent manager, educator, and daughter of immigrants, Ms. Jaddou will draw upon her vast experience to implement our nation’s immigration laws and policies fairly and effectively. We strongly support her nomination and ask that you confirm her as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Miram Feldblum, Ph.D
Executive Director
Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration