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Former Immigration Official Says Fraud, Corruption Rife at Agency
ABC News ^ | April 6, 2006 | TOM GIUSTO

Posted on 04/09/2006 9:11:26 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah

System 'Incapable' of Ensuring Security, Official Tells Congress

The agency that's supposed to protect our borders and keep out terrorists is riddled with fraud and corruption, according to testimony before Congress today.

A House subcommittee heard from Michael J. Maxwell, former director of the office of security and investigations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. He portrayed a dysfunctional agency crippled by corruption both inside and outside that's trying to handle too many cases with too few employees.

"The integrity of the United States immigration system has been corrupted, and the system is incapable of ensuring the security of our homeland," Maxwell told the committee.

He told of overworked immigration officials pressured into approving requests to enter the United States even if proper security checks had not been done.

"Employees are tempted to grant benefits in order to receive cash, promotions, time off rather than deny the benefit," he said. He accused supervisors of putting pressure on workers to handle 12 to 16 applications an hour, which he called a dangerously high caseload.

In one example, Maxwell said, the agency employed an Iraqi-born U.S. citizen suspected of being a foreign intelligence agent to review asylum applications.

The USCIS said the agency's inspector general is investigating Maxwell's allegations. USCIS spokeswoman Angelica Alfonso-Royals told The Associated Press today that the agency's top priority "continues to be preserving and enhancing the integrity of the immigration system." She said the agency has confidence in the system but continually strives for improvement and "it takes allegations seriously."

Subcommittee chairman Rep. Edward Royce, R-Calif., feared terrorists could enter our borders. "There are dozens of terrorists who have defrauded our immigration system, including many since 9/11, to remain in this country," he said.

Maxwell related the story of one manager who told him of "benefits parties" at the end of the month where the immigration employees who cleared the most cases were given cash prizes. "We also have documentation where performance appraisals, promotions, if you will, are based upon the number of affirmative adjudications," he said.

He warned that terrorists could exploit the weaknesses in the immigration agency and enter the United States. "It is clear that the system that exists now, the process that exists now cannot suitably protect the homeland based on the workload we have now," Maxwell said.

Royce said immigration officials aren't taking seriously their responsibility to counter terrorism. "The system, it's clear, is rigged to approve immigration applications and the system is rigged to shortchange security," he concluded.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aliens; corruption; fraud; guestworkers; immigration; iraq; terrorism

1 posted on 04/09/2006 9:11:29 AM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah

What large gov't agency isn't riddled with fraud and corruption?


2 posted on 04/09/2006 9:16:30 AM PDT by FlyVet (MSM: We'd rather lose than admit we were wrong.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

"There are dozens of terrorists who have defrauded our immigration system, including many since 9/11, to remain in this country," he said. "

With millions more being allowed if not invited to enter
and millions already here and demonstrating on American streets.


3 posted on 04/09/2006 9:19:32 AM PDT by stopem (There are 298 million of us! 10-20 million of them, WE will win!)
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To: Ooh-Ah

As a U.S. Senate staffer told me in 1998, "it's the worst agency in the federal government," an opinion seconded by many others. "Everyone on Capitol Hill knows it."

Looks like things haven't changed at all.

Yeah, it won't hurt legal applicants one little bit, to throw 12 million "guest worker" applications into the CIS hellhole. /sarc


4 posted on 04/09/2006 9:26:47 AM PDT by angkor
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To: FlyVet
That is no reason to overlook fraud and corruption, is it? If the penalties were more severe, maybe the personnel wouldn't want to take the risks.
5 posted on 04/09/2006 9:27:15 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Immigration Control and Border Security -The jobs George W. Bush doesn't want to do.)
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To: stopem; Travis McGee; planekT
I think the people on the Hill are inviting another revolution by not funding the proper methods to clean up the situation!

Of course, they'll express grave shock when the shooting starts. It is time to clean out the Capital and get some legislators who give a damn about America and the American citizens more than this bunch does.
6 posted on 04/09/2006 9:31:16 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Immigration Control and Border Security -The jobs George W. Bush doesn't want to do.)
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To: FlyVet
What large gov't agency isn't riddled with fraud and corruption?

Look, this is one federal agency that should be funded to the max. This isn't exactly HUD or the Dept of Education here.

Give the agency whatever it needs or outsource the work to private U.S. companies as long as their employees pass a comprehensive security check.

7 posted on 04/09/2006 9:31:58 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (A nickel bag gets sold in the park. I WANT IN!)
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To: B4Ranch; gubamyster; HiJinx
"Of course, they'll express grave shock when the shooting starts."


8 posted on 04/09/2006 9:54:31 AM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Travis McGee

The Top Quisling, Our President!
9 posted on 04/09/2006 10:30:00 AM PDT by B4Ranch (Immigration Control and Border Security -The jobs George W. Bush doesn't want to do.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

bump


10 posted on 04/09/2006 10:34:45 AM PDT by VOA
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To: Ooh-Ah

additional reportage at:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190882,00.html


11 posted on 04/09/2006 10:42:42 AM PDT by VOA
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To: Ooh-Ah
I've been on this subject like a duck on a June bug since November, 2003. The simple truth is this: "A nation which cannot control its borders, cannot control its destiny." Any bill from Congress which does not recognize this truth, is a fraud and another step in the destruction of America.

Click below for more. Search on "Double Crossing the Rio Grande" for a lot more.

P.S. I have an early primary for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina, 2 May, less than a month away. Please visit my website in the tagline, and help however you can.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "The Ed McMahon Solution for Illegal Aliens"

12 posted on 04/09/2006 10:48:03 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob (www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Ooh-Ah

I saw Michael Maxwell on Fox News Channel this morning (11AM Eastern hour).
I can't help but think this will just get nominal reportage.
It just doesn't fit with MSM sympathies with all the illegal immigrants.

Otherwise, the MSM would be blowing their horns day-n-night about a
"Whistleblower resigning in disgust during Bush Administration".


13 posted on 04/09/2006 10:53:09 AM PDT by VOA
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To: B4Ranch
It is time to clean out the Capital and get some legislators who give a damn about America and the American citizens more than this bunch does. That is exactly what needs to happen.
14 posted on 04/09/2006 10:55:57 AM PDT by planekT ([---www.wadejacoby.com/pedro---})
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To: B4Ranch

Jorge: "Family values don't stop at the border."

Mexican Girl: "Si, Jorge. I won't be stopprd there either."


15 posted on 04/09/2006 11:06:16 AM PDT by planekT ([---www.wadejacoby.com/pedro---})
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To: Ooh-Ah

bump for publicity


16 posted on 04/09/2006 12:03:38 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Ooh-Ah

The more pressure we keep on Mexico, immigration-wise, the more reformers
inside of Mexico can be emboldened and empowered to scale back monopolists'
abuses down there which keep our own country flooded with economic refugees.
Here's an interesting new thread on new legal reform progress that finally
emerged in Mexico I think as a result of immigration reform's failure:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611677/posts

We can make a difference for our sake, and their's as well. Isn't it the
neighborly thing to do?


17 posted on 04/09/2006 12:46:35 PM PDT by Shuttle Shucker
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To: planekT

1860: "But without African slaves, who will pick the cotton?"

2006: "But without illegal aliens, who will pick the lettuce?"


18 posted on 04/09/2006 1:29:36 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Ooh-Ah
Overwhelming the system in order to break it is part of the plan IMO.

This is not about workers rights or fair immigration policies. It has to do with international communist/socialist orgs looking to gain the political upperhand in the U.S..

Posted by JeffHead Jeff links to Mexica.org's 'after protest' pic fest. You can see there what the marchers thought they were marching for.

A poster for Friday’s march. March 31. This poster lists the Latino orgs that are promoting the protests. They are all communist/socialist front orgs.

Here is my analysis of what is going on behind the scenes.

Here is some evidence that 'amnesty' increases illegal entries. These people knew before the demonstrations that the time was ripe.

Smith Act of 1940 This is the U.S. statute that ought to apply to the organized gathering of tens of thousands of foreign nationals calling for the overthrow of our country.

H.R. 4437 At this link you will find a good exegesis of the only bill that doesn't offer some type of amnesty/pathway to citizenship/excuses for illegal entry. It is harsh on employers but has reasonable protections for employers who verify documents that are later shown to be false. It explains that the databases necessary are already in place. It provides for border security.

Understand that the provision that the protesters say is 'racist,' that makes illegals felons, was inserted by the Dems a short time ago. That clarifies why Hillary happened to discover the immigration issue a week before the marches. Why she demonized Republicans as "making Jesus a criminal."

Keep in mind just who organized these protests. Who provided the tens of thousands of T-shirts, the thousands of professionally made signs, the hours and hours of promotion on Spanish language radio and TV stations. It has been noticed that Islamic orgs names and logos appear on some of these signs as well. Remember that NEA teachers and administrators are the ones who have assisted the march organizers by providing bussing for their students, hoisting Mexican flags at school and overlooking the truancy.

Don't forget that the last two Presidential elections were nearly 50/50. Think about how our Congress is looking for a way to appease these foreign nationals through legislation. No election necessary. The outcome of legalizing 11 million illegals and encouraging more to come will be a solid lock for the left forevermore in national elections.

We don’t need an ‘immigration’ bill. We need and want a border security and illegal aliens bill. An immigration/guest worker bill can come after that is done.

Mexico is Rich- Mexican wealthy play American taxpayers for suckers

Good thread for any that missed it. It should really make you mad.

Every dollar spent in U.S. taxes for social services for illegal aliens frees up additional cash to be sent south as part of the annual remittances which provided $20 billion in 2005. According to the CNN news show Lou Dobbs Tonight (3/21/05), "Remittances, as they're called, are expected to become Mexico's primary source of income this year, surpassing the amount of money that Mexico makes on oil exports for the first time ever."

Mayans in Chiapas Region Convert to Islam

The bill that was just defeated in the Senate was an amnesty, plain and simple. But take a look at what these treasonous scumbags tried to hide in it. They will be back and we can expect more of this if we do not act decisively.

Hidden Bombs (Extremely Important Article on Immigration)

19 posted on 04/09/2006 2:34:20 PM PDT by TigersEye (Sedition and treason are getting to be a Beltway fashion.)
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To: TigersEye

BTTT!


20 posted on 04/09/2006 6:10:44 PM PDT by LibertarianInExile (Freedom isn't free--no, there's a hefty f'in fee--and if you don't throw in your buck-o-5, who will?)
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