DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

INSPECTIONS REPORT

 

Immigration and Naturalization Service Monitoring of Nonimmigrant Overstays

 

September 1997

Report Number I-97-08

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Transmittal Letter

Introduction

Dimensions of the Overstay Problem Are Difficult to Determine

INS Study of Legalized Alien Population

INS Estimates of the Illegal Alien Population

INS Apprehension Data

INS Removal Data

OIG Review of Apprehension Reports

OIG Review of Adjustment of Status Applications

Summary of the Numbers

INS Has No Complete and Reliable System to Track Overstays

INS Has No Specific Overstay Enforcement Program

Identifying, Locating and Arresting Individual Overstays

Lack of Detention Capacity Severely Constrains Enforcement Effectiveness

INS Needs to Analyze Available Data and Develop an Overstay Enforcement Strategy

INS Needs More Reliable and Complete Overstay Data to Meet its Responsibilities

INS Needs to Provide the State Department With More Overstay Data to Better Screen Visa Applicants

INS Is Unable to Perform its Responsibilities Under the Visa Waiver Pilot Program

Compliance with the 1996 Act Will Require System Improvements

INS Can and Should Improve its Departure Data

Conclusions and Recommendations

Appendix I Immigration and Naturalization Service Response to Draft Report - NOT INCLUDED IN THIS HYPERTEXT VERSION.

Appendix II Office of the Inspector General's Analysis of Management's Response

 

#####