Immigration
Proposed Closing of INS' Northern Regional Office: Benefits Uncertain Gao ID: GGD-86-130BR September 9, 1986In response to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) proposal to close its northern regional office, specifically: (1) its cost-effectiveness and potential impact on INS performance; and (2) any recent INS or congressional actions that could affect the implementation of the INS proposal.
GAO found that INS failed to: (1) sufficiently analyze the extent of benefits expected from the proposed restructuring of regional offices; (2) properly evaluate the ability of the other regional offices to absorb the additional work load without staff increases; (3) reasonably estimate the cost savings that would result from closing the office; (4) support its belief that illegal aliens tend to move northward from the place in which they enter the United States; and (5) consider proposed immigration reform legislation that could change alien flow patterns by restricting or prohibiting employment opportunities for aliens.