Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 3.djvu/607

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PUBLIC LAW 107-296—NOV. 25, 2002 116 STAT. 2199 (B) to evaluate and take personnel actions (including dismissal) with respect to any employee of any local office of the Ombudsman. (2) CONSULTATION.—The Ombudsman may consult with the appropriate supervisory personnel of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in carrying out the Ombudsman's responsibilities under this subsection. (f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRA- TION SERVICES. —The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall establish procedures requiring a formal response to all recommendations submitted to such director by the Ombudsman within 3 months after submission to such director. (g) OPERATION OF LOCAL OFFICES. — (1) IN GENERAL. —Each local ombudsman— (A) shall report to the Ombudsman or the delegate thereof; (B) may consult with the appropriate supervisory personnel of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding the daily operation of the local office of such ombudsman; (C) shall, at the initial meeting with any individual or employer seeking the assistance of such local office, notify such individual or employer that the local offices of the Ombudsman operate independently of any other component of the Department and report directly to Congress through the Ombudsman; and (D) at the local ombudsman's discretion, may determine not to disclose to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services contact with, or information provided by, such individual or employer. (2) MAINTENANCE OF INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS. — Each local office of the Ombudsman shall maintain a phone, facsimile, and other means of electronic communication access, and a'post office address, that is separate from those maintained by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any component of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. SEC. 453. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND QUALITY REVIEW. 6 USC 273 (a) IN GENERAL. —The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be responsible for— (1) conducting investigations of noncriminal allegations of misconduct, corruption, and fraud involving any employee of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services that are not subject to investigation by the Inspector General for the Department; (2) inspecting the operations of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and providing assessments of the quality of the operations of such bureau as a whole and each of its components; and (3) providing an analysis of the management of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. (b) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.— In providing assessments in accordance with subsection (a)(2) with respect to a decision of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any of its components, consideration shall be given to—