DHS Watch : New Citizenship and Immigration Ombudsman
Posted Aug 08, 2003

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release July 29, 2003, announcing the appointment of Mr. Prakash Khatri as the Citizenship and Immigration Ombudsman at the DHS. In this capacity, Mr. Khatri will be an advocate within DHS for immigrants and other interested parties on immigration issues. Under the Homeland Security Act, the Ombudsman is required to foster positive liaison activities related to citizenship and immigration. The Ombudsman is charged with providing recommendations whenever justifiable complaints are made regarding immigration services. The liaison activities include creating formal and informal channels of communication between DHS and other entities, and providing the Secretary of DHS and other DHS officials with policy, planning, and program advice regarding immigration.

Mr. Khatri has, most recently, served as the Manager for Immigration and Visa Processing for the Walt Disney World Company. Prior to that, he had his own law firm that focused on the practice of immigration law. Mr. Khatri has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and of various IndianAmerican organizations. We are proud that he has been selected for this important post, to which his background makes him well suited. We are pleased that the DHS has chosen an Ombudsman with experience in obtaining immigration benefits for clients and look forward to working with Mr. Khatri to achieve the common goal of improving services to those seeking immigration benefits.