Criminal Aliens

INS Enforcement Gao ID: T-GGD-90-6 November 1, 1989

GAO discussed the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) strategy for dealing with aliens involved in criminal activities. GAO noted that: (1) the INS enforcement process begins when its investigators identify aliens within the federal, state, or local criminal justice systems; (2) INS can either notify agencies to turn aliens over to INS after they are released from custody, or issue orders for deportation hearings; (3) the 1989 INS investigation budget represented a 90-percent increase in positions and a 100-percent increase in funding over 1986; (4) the percentage of foreign-born arrestees in most areas was comparable to the percentage of foreign-born population; (5) the INS strategy is not effective in dealing with deportable aliens who receive probationary or suspended sentences, because INS waits until aliens are incarcerated before beginning its investigations; (6) INS was running a pilot program in four cities to take a more proactive role in identifying criminal aliens; (7) various legislation has directed INS to more aggressively seek deportation for alien felons; and (8) the deportation process is further complicated by appeals, aliens' failure to appear for scheduled hearings, and immigration judges' reluctance to deport aliens in absentia.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.