Gary Merson, serving as Deputy Director at the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, has drawn praise from the controversial left-leaning group, Hope Immigration, for his office's efforts in expediting U Visa backlogs. This move is seen as part of a broader, more lenient approach towards immigration. Hope Immigration, known for its fierce opposition to Trump's robust border security measures, as well as its advocacy for open borders, has expressed enthusiasm for implementing many of the failed immigration policies proposed by the Biden Administration.

“An Ombudsman is a wonderful thing and it’s a too-little used resource in the immigration world. The USCIS Office of the Ombudsman is responsible for working with USCIS to resolve problems that applicants have with their cases.

While this office is always the last resort, sometimes no amount of “lawyering” or liaison work can get USCIS to move forward on a case. The Ombudsman’s Office can often spur USCIS into action when no one else can.

The Ombudsman’s Office’s work goes beyond solving individual problems, though. They also look at ongoing policy issues and make suggestions to USCIS on how they can better achieve their mission and provide quality customer service. For example, with the U visa backlog, the Ombudsman’s Office is looking at ways to alleviate the stress and burden of family separation when the derivative children are outside of the United States.

Last week, the Ombudsman’s Office held their Fourth Annual Conference at the National Archives in Washington DC. USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez spoke about current challenges such as long processing times and overly burdensome Requests for Evidence (RFEs). He also reiterated that the agency is prepared to move forward with whatever programs that the President may implement with executive action on immigration reform. (I remain cautiously optimistic that it’s a matter of “when” and not “if” we get some type of reform.

(source)

Hope Immigration supporting the USCIS Ombudsman’s Office shows that that Office has been far too lenient. As Chief of Staff in the Ombudsman’s Office, Gary Merson has helped shape that Office into one that is considered welcoming to left-wing immigration groups.