Encyclopedia · Organization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Federal immigration-benefits and status-verification agency
Organization details
- Established
- March 1, 2003
- Parent
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Role
- Immigration benefits, naturalization and status verification
- Database program
- Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a federal immigration-benefits and status-verification agency.
Agency responsibilities
USCIS began operations in March 2003 after the division of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service. It handles naturalization, immigration benefit applications and the SAVE verification service.
SAVE and voter-record inquiries
SAVE was expanded in 2025 to support state election inquiries about citizenship. In 2025–2026 litigation, the League of Women Voters challenged changes involving Social Security information; a September 25, 2026 Supreme Court stay allowed the disputed modifications during appeal without finally deciding the case.
Voter registration at citizenship ceremonies
In separate litigation, the League challenged a USCIS policy excluding outside registration organizations from agency-hosted naturalization ceremonies. The parties reached a settlement in October 2026 restoring League access to those ceremonies.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.