As reported in earlier Updates, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came into being on January 24. Tom Ridge was confirmed on January 22 to head the department, Asa Hutchinson was confirmed the next day to be Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security; and Eduardo Aguirre, in early February, was named to head the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Mr. Aguirre is Director of the Export/Import Bank. As reported by the media, Mr. Aguirre was one of thousands of Cuban children who were sent to the United States by their parents between 1960 and 1962 as part of Operation Pedro Pan. He also has had close ties with the Bush family since the late 1970s. No date has been set for his confirmation hearing. 
 
On January 30, Homeland Security Secretary Ridge announced a reorganization of the immigration functions within the Office of Transportation and Border Security. The immigration enforcement functions are to be divided into two Bureaus: the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which will enforce customs and immigration laws within the U.S., including detention and removal, intelligence and investigations; and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, which will include the inspections and border enforcement functions of the INS, Customs, and the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Program. 
 
Michael Garcia has been appointed to head the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Garcia served briefly as Acting INS Commissioner. Prior to his work with the INS, he served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, and as a federal prosecutor with the DOJ's Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Robert Bonner, formerly Customs Commissioner, was named to head the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.  

Courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

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