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Turf, access feuds beset immigration service
http://insider.washingtontimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20051207-123326-4388r ^ | December 7, 2005 | Stephen Dinan

Posted on 12/07/2005 4:21:16 PM PST by LNewman

Top officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services acknowledged in internal e-mails that some of their employees are able to decide visa applications without being able to do full background checks, even in important national security cases.

SNIP

But the e-mails show turf battles within that agency and with other agencies in the Department of Homeland Security are hindering the department's national security mission.

In one situation, the acting deputy director purportedly ordered one investigative branch not to provide information to a top-level team deciding the toughest cases because of turf conflicts with another branch.

Meanwhile, other adjudicators do not have the right level of access to databases, meaning they could miss another agency's flagged information and could let someone into the country who should be denied entry.

The database in question is the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS), the basic check that all applications get.

"The hazard is that we come up empty on the first check go-round, not that we miss details," wrote Mallory Hurteau, the chief of the National Security Branch of the Office of Fraud Detection and National Security at the agency, in an October message.

Other officials were pleading for better access to databases.

"The lack of access is and continues to drive USCIS employees crazy. Even in FOCUS there are employees that have limited access," wrote Terrance O'Reilly, director of field operations for USCIS, in an e-mail in August.

(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: aliens; borderlist; dhs; focus; ibis; immigrantlist; uscis
Much more to this article. Washington Times requires sign in.
1 posted on 12/07/2005 4:21:17 PM PST by LNewman
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; A CA Guy; ...

ping


2 posted on 12/07/2005 4:27:41 PM PST by gubamyster
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To: LNewman

here is the same article on a different site:

http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=Turf%2C+access+feuds+beset+immigration+service&c=


3 posted on 12/07/2005 4:40:13 PM PST by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68
Thanks for the alternate web site ... which includes this statement:

"The official said the situation has improved dramatically since September 11, including requiring an IBIS check on every application. She said the agency is so diligent about completing all checks that it faces lawsuits and court orders from applicants still awaiting a final decision.

"The agency would have to handle applications for any guest-worker program Congress would pass, and those who oppose such a plan said the information shows the agency is not ready to handle that burden."

4 posted on 12/07/2005 7:24:36 PM PST by LNewman
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To: LNewman

Folding all of the immigrant-dealing agencies into one entity looked good on the surface but has just led to fraction and inefficiency within the amalgum, mostly due to the members holding fast to their colliding former mission goals. People tend to do that - but I wonder if shoving these agencies together wasn't purposely done to minimize their effectiveness overall. If this conspiracy is true it's not only killing the morale and productivity of our employees, it has forced them into a mindset of paranoia that greatly reduces their effecteness at a time when we need them to focus on their jobs more than ever.

I somehow sense that the insidious mind of Rove came up with this. He should know that I consider him a traitorous swine who's put his Party's interests above the better interests of this nation time and again. Books will be written on the damage Karl has wrought.


5 posted on 12/07/2005 9:36:47 PM PST by NewRomeTacitus (aka the cruel, heartless despot of a crazy law-abiding universe - Mike the Merciless!)
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To: gubamyster

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Support our Minutemen Patriots!

Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!


6 posted on 12/08/2005 7:43:24 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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