Quick Facts
Biography
Carl Risch (born March 10, 1970) is an American lawyer and government official who currently serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as the acting chief of staff for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Risch was also a field office director for USCIS at the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea and a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State.
Early life and education
Risch was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, the adopted son of an auto parts factory worker. He received a B.A. in political science from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and earned a J.D. from Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law in 1995.
Career
After obtaining his J.D., Risch worked as a litigation associate for the law firm of Kirkpatrick and Lockhart. He went on to practice corporate law at Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto and to serve as an assistant adjunct professor of business law at Franklin & Marshall College.
In 1999, Risch joined the United States Foreign Service. He managed the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. consulate in Amsterdam. He also oversaw the American Citizens Services Unit at the U.S. embassy. In 2002, Risch rejoined the law firm of Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto and was subsequently made a partner.
In 2006, Risch joined the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States Department of Homeland Security. During his tenure at USCIS, he worked as an appeals officer and manager, as a field officer in the Philippines and in Seoul, and as acting chief of staff. He made refugee processing visits to Thailand, Pakistan, Namibia, and Malaysia and encouraged victims of persecution and torture to resettle in the United States.
In June 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Risch to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Risch was confirmed to this position by the United States Senate on August 3, 2017.