The US Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued a memo on June 23, 2025, outlining a new temporary office within DOL, the Office of Immigration Policy (OIP). According to media reporting, the Office of Immigration Policy will focus on employment-based visas and will be led by Brian Pasternak, the current administrator of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is establishing the temporary OIP within the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) to more effectively assist in carrying out the Secretary’s responsibilities under the INA.
Key Functions
- Strategic oversight and resource management of funding for immigration related work across DOL and any additional funding or forms of resources;
- Establish strategic management and policy priorities for immigration related work streams, then provide day-to-day direction and oversight to implement these priorities in close coordination with affected DOL agency heads;
- Monitor the administration of foreign labor certification activities and develop customer-centered policies, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for ETA, to improve access to employment-based visa programs, optimize program performance, and ensure use of the latest technologies to improve service delivery and continuity of operations;
- Establish strategic priority and scope for all immigration related policy and regulatory projects and provide management oversight to track and coordinate timely completion of all project milestones and deadlines;
- Manage priorities, expectations, and communications of immigration related initiatives and projects with external partners, including the Office of Management and Budget, United States Digital Service, Congress, press, and other relevant external stakeholders, in close coordination with internal DOL agency heads (e.g., OCIA, OPA); and
- Oversee coordination with and between other relevant federal agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Agriculture.
The new office and its objectives were outlined to the heads of the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, Wage and Hour Division, and Bureau of International Labor Affairs.
The establishment of the OIP and responsibilities are effective immediately and shall remain in effect until otherwise superseded and in no way creates authority for any DOL agency other than OIP to perform immigration related activities except as prescribed in this delegation.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.