INS Commissioner Doris Meissner promised in a December 23rd press conference that the INS will take steps to make sure that immigrants know their rights and know how to complain when their rights are violated.

The INS has come under attack in recent months from immigrant rights organizations who accuse the INS, particularly the US Border Patrol, of serious human rights violations including beatings, rapes, and even murder.

A Congressionally-mandated citizens' advisory panel offered a number of recommendations to the INS many of which Commissioner Meissner said would be adopted. The panel, composed of members of the public as well as INS and Justice Department officials, released its recommendations on September 30th after two years of reviewing INS procedures.

Among the steps INS intends to take are the following:

- The INS Commissioner announced that in addition to the public display of posters and complaint forms, the INS will distribute pamphlets and set up community meetings to explain how to complain.

- The INS will implement a new training program where INS officials will meet immigrant community leaders.

- INS supervisors get handbooks offering guidance in investigating complaints.

- the INS will work to improve access to legal counsel at INS detention facilities

- work more closely with Mexican officials including placing Mexican consular officials at certain points of entry.

Commissioner Meissner denied that there has been an alarming rise in INS abuses. According to Meissner, the number of serious abuse cases reported has actually dropped from 350 in 1996 to an estimated 230 for calendar year 1997. Meissner categorized "serious abuse" as actions that might be considered criminal in nature. When pressed to report on trends in the total number of complaints, John Chase, director of the INS Office of Internal Audit, admitted that the overall number of complaints is expected to rise 20% this year from 1,553 go more than 1,800. Meissner and Chase both cautioned that the rise may point to better communications on reporting abuses rather than an actual increase in abusive conduct.