The Department of Veterans Affairs has directed undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other key officials to report on all non-citizens employed by or affiliated with the agency. The VA employs about 450,000 workers. (Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs has directed its top leaders to identify any noncitizens employed by or affiliated with the agency for further investigation.
Any “adverse” findings will be referred to appropriate agencies that handle immigration enforcement for individuals not authorized to be in the U.S., the VA said Friday.
Peter Kasperowicz, VA press secretary, said the agency is required by federal law to continuously vet employees and affiliates that include unpaid researchers and others who may access VA data and systems, to ensure they meet the federal government’s “trusted workforce standards.”
Trusted workforce standards establish consistent policies and practices across federal agencies for reviewing personnel and granting security clearances.
The process of checking an individual’s background has shifted from periodic reviews to automated vetting that occurs in real time across federal agencies.
“As part of this continuous process, VA on Nov. 25 directed undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other key officials to provide a report on all non-United States citizens who are employed by or affiliated with VA,” Kasperowicz said.
VA will forward reports that point to problems to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.
Both agencies are charged with monitoring and enforcing immigration laws and policies.
“VA will share any adverse findings with the appropriate agencies to ensure anyone who is not authorized to be in the U.S. is dealt with accordingly,” Kasperowicz said.
As of Nov. 16, ICE held 65,135 individuals in detention, according to data provided by ICE.
The VA employs more than 450,000 workers that include doctors, nurses and other medical personnel at its hospitals and clinics. About a quarter of VA employees are veterans.
An estimated 115,000 foreign nationals living in the U.S. are veterans who previously served on active duty in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Another 40,000 foreign nationals served in active and reserve components of the armed forces as of February 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Kasperowicz said the VA is not concerned that its oversight of noncitizens working at or affiliated with the VA will detract from recruitment efforts for medical personnel and other workers for critical roles.
“VA continuously vets all employees and affiliates and has done so for many years,” he said.
