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November 19, 1997
Moderator: Demetrios Papademetriou, Senior Associate, International Migration Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Panelist: Doris Meissner, Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
Mr. Papademetriou introduced and welcomed Commissioner Meissner to the Carnegie Endowment. He compared the large number of changes the INS has undergone this year to a roller coaster ride and wondered how families would be able to keep up with all the changes. Mr. Papademetriou also expressed the International Migration Policy Program s gratitude for the Commissioner s support of the Program over the year
Commissioner Meissner opened her presentation by stating that she would cover two broad, continuing themes about the INS: dealing in an atmosphere of new realities and demands and balancing enforcement and service.
According to the Commissioner, changes in the naturalization procedures have been the overriding issue that is providing the impetus for the transformation of not only naturalization but also of the entire process of adjudication. Because naturalization applications have quadrupled since 1993, a significant backlog of applications still exists. In addition, the Commissioner wished to dispel rumors about the alleged tens of thousands who obtained citizenship fraudulently. She reported that the completion of the 1996 INS fiscal audit showed approximately 300 apparent cases with disqualifying felony convictions where denaturalization procedures will be implemented. Possible grounds for denaturalization were found in 5,700 cases; all of them are being called in for interviews and investigated.
The INS has identified two key goals in its focus on customer service: standardization and quality assurance. To accomplish them, the Commissioner recounted, the INS has relied on enormous automation and new contracting ability. For example, the INS can now hire new permanent workers instead of temporary ones. Moreover, in order to comply with Congress's mandate, the INS will make appointments to have applicants fingerprinted at new, high-tech INS facilities--80 new offices will be created nationwide--where the traditional inking method will be replaced with electronic fingerprinting and bar codes on fingerprint cards and applications, technological advancements that have the potential to expand electronic INS services to other areas. In addition, new software will process all naturalization applications, and a van fleet will be available to reach homebound applicants, those in nursing homes, and others with special needs. Commissioner Meissner assured the audience that the INS will be unrecognizable one year from now due to automation.
Commissioner Meissner proceeded to summarize other new INS developments. She stressed that the nature of the U.S.-Mexico border has changed due to the INS s focus on major corridors of illegal traffic such as the San Diego and El Paso corridors. Furthermore, efforts to control immigration at the source will receive a boost when the INS extends its border overseas: 13 new offices will be opening abroad.
According to the Commissioner, the INS has improved its ability to remove illegal immigrants, especially criminals, from the United States. She cited the figure of 110,000 people who were removed last year. She also feels recent asylum reforms such as the expedited removal process deter abuse and at the same time safeguard the rights of refugees who seek asylum. Expedited removal assures access to legitimate asylum claims and helps to weed out people who take advantage of the system.
The 1997 Commission on Immigration Reform recommended a thorough reorganization of the current structure of the immigration system. In response, Commissioner Meissner noted that the INS is conducting an internal review to assess and compare the impact of restructuring the INS into separate entities versus retaining the current INS structure. In conclusion, the Commissioner reiterated what she perceived to be the major INS challenges in the near future: managing its growth and maintaining the balance between service and enforcement.