We also observed fingerprinting procedures at these district offices. Specifically, we evaluated INS’ actions and plans in response to the problems identified in the OIG report, including the timely mailing of fingerprint cards to the FBI, the timely filing of FBI criminal history reports, and the procedures used to follow up on fingerprint cards rejected by the FBI. Further, we discussed the future impact of automated fingerprinting identification systems with INS and FBI officials. INS Plans Certification Program to Increase Control Over Fingerprint Providers

INS’ fingerprinting working group has recommended that INS implement a certification program that would increase control over fingerprint providers. INS plans to use the fees from organizations applying for certification to pay for the monitoring program. The working group rejected the option of having the district offices do the fingerprinting because of resource shortages and the potential for overcrowding in the district offices. Other options included using contractors, police departments, and voluntary groups. According to INS, it is actively pursuing the use of its own automated fingerprint identification systems to reduce fingerprint fraud and processing time. At the time of the alien’s hearing, if INS examiners do not find a criminal history report in an alien’s file and it is 60 days after the application date, the examiners assume that a fingerprint check has been completed and that the alien does not have a criminal history record. The program should help ensure that the fingerprints aliens submit with applications are their own. INS had told the district offices to correct the problems but had not monitored the districts’ efforts to follow those instructions. Recommendations

We recommend that the Attorney General direct the Commissioner of INS to monitor progress to ensure that districts comply with INS’ headquarters directives to submit fingerprint cards to the FBI on a timely basis, file FBI arrest reports in aliens’ files immediately, and submit new fingerprint cards to replace those that are rejected by the FBI and obtain the results from the FBI of all its record and fingerprint checks, including those aliens who do not have criminal history records and make the results available to the examiners before the aliens’ hearings.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) fingerprinting procedures for aliens applying for immigration and naturalization benefits, focusing on: (1) INS efforts to ensure that the fingerprints aliens submit are their own; (2) options INS considered to improve the fingerprinting process; (3) the future impact of automated fingerprinting identification systems; (4) INS efforts to ensure timely mailing of fingerprint cards to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and timely filing of FBI criminal history reports; and (5) INS actions to follow up on fingerprint cards rejected because of illegibility or incomplete information.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) INS plans to implement a certification and training program in 1995 for fingerprint providers and establish fingerprinting procedures to improve control over the fingerprinting process; (2) INS plans to monitor fingerprint providers at least every 3 years to ensure that they follow established procedures; (3) INS has decided not to have district offices do the fingerprinting due to a lack of resources and potential overcrowding at the offices; (4) INS has also rejected the option of having contractors, police departments, and volunteer groups do the fingerprinting; (5) INS plans to use a FBI-developed automated fingerprint identification system to electronically transmit information and reduce processing time; (6) INS has instructed district directors to correct problems with the mailing of fingerprint cards to FBI, filing FBI criminal history reports, and resubmission of rejected fingerprint cards, but it has not monitored the districts' progress in correcting these problems; (7) INS examiners sometimes approve an alien's application without a criminal history check because they assume one has been done even if it is not in the alien's file; and (8) INS examiners sometimes cannot determine if FBI fingerprint checks have been completed because FBI only returns reports when criminal histories are found.