"Under the former INS and now ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement,) worksite enforcement has been a relatively low priority," says the report, which was released Wednesday.
And enforcement efforts have decreased in recent years. The report found that:
* In 1999, INS devoted about 9 percent of its agent investigative work years to worksite enforcement. In 2003, that dropped to 4 percent.
* In 1999, INS issued 417 notices that it intended to fine an employer. In 2003, ICE issued three such notices.
* In 1999, there were 2,849 workplace arrests of unauthorized workers. In 2003 there were 445.
Department of Homeland Security officials generally agreed with the findings of the GAO study.
3!? 3!? I could go sit any morning at a local gas station where dozens of illegals hang out waiting to be picked up by contractors and find 3 employers to fine in about 5 minutes...and this scene is duplicated on thousands of street corners in America every morning