CIS Ombudsman
From July 2003 to March 2008, Prakash Khatri served as the first Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) at the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, he led an independent component dedicated to helping individuals and sponsors navigate the legal immigration system and resolve problems that arise while their applications for immigration benefits are processed at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
As CIS Ombudsman, Mr. Khatri provided senior executive leadership, vision, and direction to policymakers in several Cabinet-level agencies. An immigrant himself, Mr. Khatri regularly consulted policymakers in DHS and the Departments of State, Labor, and Justice, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House on immigration-related matters. During his nearly five years with DHS, Mr. Khatri developed and delivered numerous recommendations to USCIS on changes to the immigration benefits process. He based the proposals on input collected from USCIS workers throughout the world, visits to U.S. border posts and airports, meetings with DHS immigration officials, and consultations with thousands of individuals, Fortune 500 corporations, and other employer representatives, lawyers, professional organizations and community-based organizations across the country.
Before being appointed as the CIS Ombudsman by President Bush, Mr. Khatri managed the Immigration Compliance Department for Walt Disney World Co. in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. At Disney, he managed a team of professionals that provided technical immigration advice to the Walt Disney World Resort as well as numerous other Walt Disney Company subsidiaries and affiliates.
Before arriving at Disney, Mr. Khatri practiced law for 14 years, specializing in immigration issues. He is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law.