Every year, the Justice Department Office of the Inspector General issues a list of management challenges the Department faces. This year, given the problems and changes facing the INS, the OIG issued a list specific to the INS. The ten areas singled out are things that have traditionally been issues for the INS, and will doubtless continue to be even after the INS is dismantled and reorganized in the Department of Homeland Security.
The first challenge area is border security. The northern border remains perennially understaffed, and the southern border, while well staffed, is in need to infrastructure improvements. There are continuing problems with the INS’s ability to identify people it apprehends who may be wanted by law enforcement, and in its ability to detain people prior to their deportation. There are also security issues with the Visa Waiver and Transit Without Visa Programs.
The second area is the removal of undocumented immigrants and people who have overstayed their visa. The OIG notes that current INS programs in these areas are clearly inadequate, and that improvement will take significant effort and resources. The third area, development of an entry-exit tracking system, would do much to help the INS with the problem of visa overstays. Such a program was first mandated in 1996, and after the terrorist attacks has become a priority. Developing an effective tracking program may be the biggest challenge facing the INS.
The fourth challenge area is dealing with the staggering backlog of pending applications. As the INS targets one type of case for backlog reduction, processing times for other cases grow. Also, INS efforts to track its processing times are flawed because its systems contain inaccurate data. The fifth challenge for the INS is in its management of financial statements and systems. For the past five years the INS has been in the process of replacing its financial systems, which are not in compliance with federal financial systems requirements.
Information technology is the sixth challenge facing the INS. Implementation of systems is not adequately monitored, and the INS does not have comprehensive performance reviews to determine whether the systems are meeting expectations. Related is the seventh challenge, maintaining computer systems security. Past reports have shown INS systems to be vulnerable to unauthorized use.
The eighth area, management of detention space, has been an increasing problem since 1996, when Congress required the INS to detain an increasingly large number of people. More and more the INS has been forced to rely on outside contractors for detention space, and now nearly 70 percent of detainees are held in facilities not operated by the INS. Numerous reports have shown that these contract facilities habitually overcharge the INS. There are also special problems with the detention of juveniles.
Organizational structure is the ninth challenge area. For years there has been talk of reorganization of the INS, and now it will happen. As the OIG notes, wherever the different components of the INS end up, ensuring continuity and continued provision of services will be critical. Finally, the report focuses on the INS’s human capital. There are problems in staffing the Border Patrol and in recruiting and maintaining service employees. There are also tremendous differences between each INS office, and some appear to not even be aware of standard INS policies.
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