Keynote Session with Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, Acting Director, USCIS
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II is the Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS mission is to administer the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II
Ken Cuccinelli began serving as the acting director of USCIS on June 10, 2019.
Mr. Cuccinelli and his wife, Teiro, grew up and live in Virginia. They have seven children, one son-in-law and one grandchild.
Mr. Cuccinelli served as Virginia’s attorney general from 2010 to 2014. During his time as attorney general, he led Virginia from being amongst the worst states in fighting human trafficking to becoming one of the best. Additionally, he led efforts resulting in record enforcement against gangs, health care fraud, and child predators. Mr. Cuccinelli also served in the Senate of Virginia from 2002 to 2010 and has practiced law for nearly 25 years.
Mr. Cuccinelli earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Virginia, a law degree from Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, and a Masters in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. He is a proud graduate of Gonzaga High School, located just blocks from USCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In his spare time, Mr. Cuccinelli enjoys spending time with his family, reading, shooting, and watching college basketball.
Austin T. Fragomen, Jr.
Based in Fragomen’s New York office, Austin is the Chairman of the Executive Committee. Over the course of his career in immigration, Austin has served as staff counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on immigration, citizenship and international law and as an adjunct professor of law at New York University School of Law. Most recently, Austin appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security Subcommittee to discuss how to enforce immigration laws at the worksite effectively. He also has testified before the immigration subcommittees of the House and Senate to discuss a variety of business immigration related topics, including the H-1B and L visa programs and corporate immigration compliance. Austin is the founding co-author of a renowned series of immigration handbooks that provide information on the best practices and latest developments in business immigration, published by Thomson Reuters/West.
Austin earned his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve School of Law and Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University.