Immigration Management

GAO discussed Department of Justice (DOJ) and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) efforts to address leadership and management problems. GAO noted that INS: (1) implemented models for the Border Patrol and the adjudication program to better allocate staff based on work load; (2) requested increased staffing for detention centers; (3) initiated a management information planning process to help ensure more coordinated system development; and (4) initiated programs to address strategic planning weaknesses using a total-quality-management framework. GAO also noted that: (1) INS reduced the autonomy of its regional offices to promote uniformity of program operations, make it easier to effectively allocate and balance resources to address changing work loads, and increase accountability of field managers to INS headquarters; (2) INS did not confront the dual enforcement structure and the unclear division of enforcement responsibilities between the Border Patrol and the Investigations Division; (3) INS appointed a new Executive Associate Commissioner for Management, initiated joint audits with the Customs Service to help ensure the collection of inspection fees, and enacted a debt management program to improve the collection of bonds and other receivables; and (4) modification of the DOJ Financial Management Information System for INS use continues to be delayed.