GAO: INS Effort Working, Sort Of

The Immigration and Naturalization Service's four-year effort to reduce illegal immigration is working, but it is unclear to what extent, a new General Accounting Office report concludes.

"The indicators presently used for measuring the overall success of the strategy are not sufficiently comprehensive to address the distinct results, and, in many cases, data are not being gathered systematically," the report says.

In February 1994, Attorney General Janet Reno a five-part strategy to strengthen enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. The strategy included: strengthening the border, removing criminal aliens, reforming the asylum process, enforcing immigration laws and promoting citizenship for qualified immigrants.

To carry out the strategy, Reno instructed the Border Patrol to allocate additional officers in the areas with the most illegal activity. Over the last three years, INS has added about 800 inspectors at ports of entry on the Southwest border, increasing the total number of inspectors to about 1,300.

INS' overall budget has more than doubled in the past five years, from $1.5 billion in 1993 to $3.1 billion in 1997. Of that amount, $800 million is specifically earmarked for deterring illegal entry along the border.

INS says the new strategy is making a big difference, but GAO says the jury is still out.

"The information that INS has reported on apprehensions, attempted fraudulent entries at ports and other interim effects, and INS intelligence reports on changes in illegal alien traffic provide only a partial picture of the effects of increased border control," the report says.

GAO suggests the Attorney General develop and implement a plan for a "formal, cost effective" systematic evaluation of the strategy to deter illegal entry.

INS did not provide written comments on the GAO report, but did acknowledge the need for a comprehensive border-wide evaluation. INS officials told GAO they are in the process of designing an evaluation plan.