; (B) adjudicate applications and petitions for immigration benefits; (C) interview applicants for immigration benefits; (D) conduct security and background investigations of applicants for immigration benefits and develop systems and techniques for identifying immigration benefit fraud; and (E) carry out other duties and powers prescribed by the Director. (j) Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate (1) In general There is established in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services a Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate. (2) Associate Director There shall be at the head of the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate an Associate Director, who shall report to the Director. (3) Duties The Associate Director of the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate shall— (A) adjudicate asylum and refugee applications; (B) conduct screenings on individuals seeking to enter the United States and migrants interdicted at sea; (C) adjudicate parole requests from individuals residing outside the United States for humanitarian or public benefit reasons; (D) perform other authorized functions of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services outside the United States; (E) conduct security and background investigations of applicants for immigration benefits and develop systems and techniques for identifying immigration benefit fraud