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Memorandum: Florida International University
"We audited public assistance funds awarded to Florida International University (University). The audit objective was to determine whether the University accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of September 30,2010, the cut-off date of our review, the University had received public assistance awards totaling $10.8 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), a FEMA grantee, for damages related to Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. The awards provided 100% FEMA funding for emergency protective measures, debris removal activities, and repairs to roads and facilities."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Kimble, C. David
2011-05-03
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Memorandum: Coast Transit Authority
"We audited public assistance funds awarded to Coast Transit Authority (CTA) located in Gulfport, . Mississippi. The objective of the audit was to determine whether CTA accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of May 27, 2010, CTA had received a public assistance award of$8.2 million from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), a FEMA grantee, for damages related to Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August 2005. The award provided 100% FEMA funding for emergency protective measures, and repair of buildings and equipment damaged as a result of the disaster."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2011-05-03
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Management of DHS' Data Center Consolidation Initiative Needs Improvement
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report "addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the Office of the Chief Information Officer's data center consolidation initiative. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents." The report recommends that DHS: "(1) Perform the necessary discovery and validation efforts to obtain accurate inventories of its data centers, hardware, and systems" and "Review government-wide efforts as well as industry best practices for data center consolidations, and develop a more comprehensive data center consolidation plan."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-09
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Information Technology Management Letter for the FY 2009 DHS Integrated Audit (Redacted)
"This report presents the information technology (IT) management letter for the FY 2009 DRS financial statement audit as of September 30, 2009. It contains observations and recommendations related to information technology internal control that were summarized within the Independent Auditors' Report, dated November 13, 2009 and represents the separate restricted distribution report mentioned in that report. The independent accounting firm KPMG LLP (KPMG) performed the audit of the DRS' FY 2009 financial statements and prepared this IT management letter. KPMG is responsible for the attached IT management letter dated December 9,2009; and the conclusions expressed in it."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-08
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Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General: Annual Review of the United States Coast Guard's Mission Performance (FY 2009)
"This report presents our annual review of the United States Coast Guard's mission performance, as required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002. To address the Act's requirements, we reviewed the Coast Guard's performance measures and results for each non-homeland security and homeland security mission, as well as resource hours used to perform the various missions from Fiscal Years 2001 through 2009. We did not verify the accuracy of Coast Guard--provided data. According to the Coast Guard, the data show that in Fiscal Year 2009, for the eighth consecutive year, the Coast Guard dedicated more resource hours to homeland security missions than to non-homeland security missions. The data also show that the gap between homeland security and non-homeland security resource hours increased to 12% in FY 2009 from 10% in FY 2008. Coast Guard performance measurement information indicates that it met more non-homeland security mission performance measures than homeland security mission performance measures. Coast Guard-- provided budget projections for Fiscal Year 2010 show a decrease in homeland security mission spending and a slight increase in non-homeland security mission spending from Fiscal Year 2009, and a narrowing of the gap between the two categories. This report contains no recommendations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-08
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Recommendations to Improve the Coast Guard's System for Adjudicating Suspension and Revocation Matters
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) "report addresses certain issues related to the Coast Guard's system for adjudicating suspension and revocation matters. [...]. In October 2008, the United States Coast Guard requested that we assess the validity of a former Administrative Law Judge's [ALJ] allegations of bias and misconduct in the Coast Guard's Administrative Law Judge program, particularly in connection with the adjudication of cases involving the suspension and revocation of merchant mariner credentials. In January 2009, we initiated a review to determine whether the Chief Administrative Law Judge directed subordinate Administrative Law Judges to rule in favor of the Coast Guard and whether the Chief Administrative Law Judge's senior staff engaged in an improper, ex parte meeting with Coast Guard attorneys and investigating officers. Our report, Allegations of Misconduct within the Coast Guard's Administrative Law Judge Program (OIG-10-108), addressed the merits of the allegations. It did not contain any recommendations. While assessing the allegations, we reviewed the Administrative Law Judge program and the Coast Guard's suspension and revocation administrative proceedings, and noted programmatic issues not directly related to the allegations that warranted management's attention. The Administrative Law Judge program needs to review and update certain policies and procedures regarding the training, investigation, and discipline of Administrative Law Judges. The Coast Guard should also train and provide adequate legal support to its investigating officers. Commandant Decisions on Appeal need to be issued more timely and be more accessible to the public. Finally, the Coast Guard should establish guidelines governing interaction between staff handling prosecutorial and adjudicative functions. We are making 11 recommendations to address these issues and to improve the effectiveness, integrity, and efficiency of both the ALJ program and suspension and revocation administrative proceedings. In its response to our draft report, the Coast Guard concurred with each recommendation."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-08
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Information Sharing with Fusion Centers Has Improved, but Information System Challenges Remain
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report "addresses the strengths and weaknesses of DHS' information sharing with state and local fusion centers and the implementation of information technology to support these activities. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents. [...] We reviewed the department's approach to information sharing with state and local fusion centers. Our objectives were to determine (1) the effectiveness of DHS' strategy, processes, and activities for facilitating information sharing with fusion centers; and (2) the extent to which information technology systems support information sharing between the department and these centers. DHS has made progress in its efforts to improve information sharing with fusion centers. Fusion center personnel indicated that information sharing had improved over time and the information received from the department met their needs primarily due to the deployment of DHS intelligence officers to the centers. As a result of improved information sharing, fusion centers have successfully collaborated with the department during numerous large-scale events and maintained situational awareness after attempted terrorist attacks or other incidents. However, DHS component collaboration in the information sharing process needs improvement, and some intelligence products could better meet state and local needs."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-10
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Age Determination Practices for Unaccompanied Alien Children - Update
"Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for apprehending, detaining, and deporting individuals who are not authorized to remain in the United States. Children who enter ICE custody require different treatment than adult detainees. ICE must ensure that they are not detained with unrelated adults and that they receive specified treatment and provisions while in custody. Unaccompanied alien children-individuals determined to be less than 18 years of age who are unlawfully in the United States without a parent or other legal guardian-must be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) custody within 72 hours of determining such children are unaccompanied, to await deportation or transfer to a legal guardian in the United States. 1 To separate unaccompanied children from adult's in ICE custody, ICE attempts to establish the date of birth for any apprehended person not readily identifiable as an adult or child. In those instances, ICE relies on various forms of information for age determination purposes, including interview statements and documentation such as birth certificates. When ICE officials have difficulty determining whether an individual is a child or an adult, they may also obtain a professional medical opinion based on dental or skeletal radiographs, commonly referred to as x-rays, to help make an age determination. ICE's use of radiographs, however, has been criticized as unreliable by some in the medical and advocacy communities."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-09
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Office of Inspector General, Semiannual Report to the Congress, April 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016
From the inspector general's message: "I am pleased to present our semiannual report, which summarizes the work and accomplishments of our office during the second half of fiscal year 2016. This period's report format is new, and designed to highlight our role as an independent audit, inspection and investigative component, whose purpose is to be an agent of positive change and to assist the Department in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations. We believe that our efforts help fulfil the DHS mission: 'With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.'"
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016
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Summary and Key Findings of Fiscal Year 2015 FEMA Disaster Grant and Program Audits
"This is our seventh annual 'capping' report summarizing the results of our disaster-related audits. This annual summary, a consolidation of all of our findings and recommendations, informs FEMA headquarters officials about significant issues of noncompliance and program inefficiencies that warrant their attention. The report also emphasizes the total resulting potential monetary benefits of our recommendations. This report contains no recommendations, but provides an opportunity for FEMA to assess the need for changes based on the recurring nature of our findings."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-29
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Evaluation of DHS' Information Security Program for Fiscal Year 2016
"We reviewed the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) information security program in accordance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). Our objective was to determine whether DHS' information security program is adequate, effective, and complies with FISMA requirements. We recommended that DHS further strengthen its oversight of the Department's information security program in the areas of continuous monitoring, plan of action and milestones, security authorization, and configuration management."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-01-18
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Verification Review of Transportation Security Administration's Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques/Behavior Detection and Analysis Program
"In 2013, we audited TSA's [Transportation Security Administration] then-Screening of Passengers by Observation
Techniques (SPOT) program. TSA has since changed the name of the program
from the SPOT program to the BDA [Behavioral Detection and Analysis] program. The intent of the program is to
screen passengers by observing their behavior in order to detect potential high-risk
travelers. The program uses Behavior Detection Officers (BDO) to detect
passenger behaviors that may be indicative of stress, fear, or deception.
Currently, TSA operates the program at 87 airports (BDA airports) with 2,660
full-time staff. Between fiscal years 2007 and 2015, the program expended an
estimated $1.5 billion.
Our 2013 audit reported that TSA had not implemented a comprehensive
strategic plan to ensure the SPOT program's success and did not have
adequate controls to ensure the completeness, accuracy, authorization, and
validity of program data. To address the 2013 report's recommendations, TSA
implemented a comprehensive strategic plan and addressed the accuracy and
reliability of data by conducting a large scale data audit to identify and correct
errors in its referral data. TSA also implemented additional controls to improve
the timeliness and accuracy of recorded referrals. Subsequently, we closed the
recommendations because we determined that TSA's corrective actions met the
intent of our recommendations.
In this verification review, we evaluated whether TSA's on-going actions still
meet the intent of these recommendations. We did not look at the program's
effectiveness, as this review is limited in scope. We intend to conduct an audit
of the program's effectiveness in FY 2017."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-07-08
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Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Generally Accounted For and Expended FEMA Grant Funds Properly
"The Minneapolis Park
and Recreation Board
(Board) received a $2.4
million award in Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) grant
funds for damages in
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
from severe storms,
straight-line winds, and
flooding in June 2013.
Our audit objective was
to determine whether
the Board accounted for
and expended FEMA
funds according to
Federal regulations and
FEMA guidelines.
The report contains no
recommendations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-07-07
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FEMA Should Recover $2.2 Million of $27.2 Million in Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee, for May 2010 Flood Emergency Work
"Nashville-Davidson County,
Tennessee (County) received a
net grant award of $69.8
million from the Tennessee
Emergency Management
Agency (Tennessee), a Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) grantee, for
damages resulting from a
May 2010 flood. We audited
14 projects for emergency
work totaling $19.3 million,
or 71 percent of the $27.2
million awarded for
emergency work.
FEMA should disallow
$2,164,282 of ineligible costs
and direct Tennessee to
monitor the County's
performance for compliance
with Federal grant
requirements."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-07-15
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Secret Service Has Taken Action to Address the Recommendations of the Protective Mission Panel
"As directed by 'Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016', we reviewed the Secret Service's actions to address the PMP's recommendations. Specifically, we reviewed changes made by the Secret Service to training, staffing, technology, operations, and its organizational structure. We are making five recommendations to further the Secret Service's progress in addressing the PMP's recommendations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-10
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DHS Drug Interdiction Efforts Need Improvement
"The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is responsible for setting drug control priorities for the Federal Government. We conducted this audit to assess DHS' oversight efforts in relation to ONDCP's National Drug Control Strategy. We made two recommendations that, if implemented, will improve DHS' drug interdiction efforts."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-08
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ICE Still Struggles to Hire and Retain Staff for Mental Health Cases in Immigration Detention
Taken from the introduction within the document, this review "...focused on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ability to manage cases of detained individuals with mental health conditions. We conducted this verification review to assess ICE's progress on recommendations made in our March 2011 report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-07-21
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Phelps County, Missouri, Needs Additional Assistance and Monitoring to Ensure Proper Management of Its $1.97 Million FEMA Grant
"FEMA estimated that
the County had
sustained approximately
$1.97 million in
damages from severe
storms and flooding in
late 2015. We conducted
this audit early in the
grant process to identify
areas where the County
may need additional
technical assistance or
monitoring to ensure
compliance with Federal
regulations and FEMA
guidelines. FEMA should disallow
$130,089 as ineligible
contract costs and direct
Missouri to provide
additional technical
assistance and
monitoring to the
County to ensure it
complies with Federal
procurement standards."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-17
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Portland, Oregon, Has Adequate Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage Its FEMA Grant Funding
"The severe winter storms,
straight-line winds, flooding,
landslides, and mudslides
during December 6-23,
2015, caused severe damage
to the City of Portland,
Oregon (City). City officials
estimate that disaster-related
costs may exceed
$11 million. We conducted
this audit early in the Public
Assistance process to
identify areas where the City
may need additional
technical assistance or
monitoring to ensure
compliance with Federal
regulations and FEMA
guidelines. The report contains no recommendations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-19
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Washington County, Florida, Effectively Managed FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded for a July 2013 Flood
"Washington County, Florida,
(County) received an award of
$13.9 million from the Florida
Division of Emergency
Management Agency
(Florida), a Federal
Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) grantee, for
damages resulting from a
July 2013 flood. We audited
14 projects totaling $3.6
million. Our audit objective
was to determine whether the
County accounted for and
expended FEMA funds
according to Federal
requirements. This report contains no recommendations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-19
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Ocean County, New Jersey, Generally Accounted for and Expended FEMA Public Assistance Funds Properly
"Ocean County, New Jersey
(County) received a $105
million Public Assistance
grant award from the New
Jersey Office of Emergency
Management (New Jersey), a
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
grantee, for Hurricane Sandy
damages in October 2012.
Our audit objective was to
determine whether the
County accounted for and
expended FEMA funds
according to Federal
requirements.
FEMA should disallow
$364,364 in unsupported
costs. FEMA should also
direct New Jersey to assist
the County in properly
supporting all costs it has
claimed or plans to claim."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-12
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City of Hazelwood, Missouri, Needs Additional Assistance and Monitoring to Ensure Proper Management of Its Federal Grant
"At the time of our audit,
the City of Hazelwood,
Missouri (City), estimated
it had sustained
approximately $3.3 million
in damages from flooding
in December 2015. We
conducted this audit early
in the grant process to
identify areas where the
City may need additional
technical assistance and
monitoring to ensure
compliance with Federal
requirements.
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) should direct
Missouri to provide
additional technical
assistance and increase its
monitoring of the City to
ensure it complies with
Federal procurement
standards."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-11
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Wisner-Pilger Public Schools, Nebraska, Took Corrective Actions to Comply with Federal Grant Award Requirements
"Wisner-Pilger Public
Schools (Wisner-Pilger)
received a $7.9 million
Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) grant award for
damages from severe
storms, tornadoes,
straight-line winds, and
flooding in June 2014. We
conducted this audit early
in the grant process to
identify areas where
Wisner-Pilger may need
additional technical
assistance or monitoring
to ensure compliance.
FEMA should work with
the Nebraska Emergency
Management Agency
(Nebraska) to improve its
oversight of subgrantees
to ensure they are aware
of and comply with
Federal requirements."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-16
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FEMA Should Suspend All Grant Payments on the $29.9 Million Coastal Retrofit Program Until Mississippi Can Properly Account for Federal Funds
"Mississippi received a
$29.9 million Hazard
Mitigation grant from
the Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) for the state's
Coastal Retrofit Program
(Program). The goal of
the Program was to help
2,000 Mississippi
homeowners strengthen
their homes against
wind damages in future
disasters. We received
complaints that the
state was mishandling
Federal funds for this
Program.
FEMA should suspend
all grant payments for
the $29.9 million
Program until
Mississippi can properly
account for Federal
funds."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-08-10
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AMO and Coast Guard Maritime Missions Are Not Duplicative, but Could Improve with Better Coordination
"Within the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard) share responsibility for maritime security missions. At the request of Congress, we reviewed the maritime missions and responsibilities of AMO and the Coast Guard. We made two recommendations to improve oversight and coordination of maritime operations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-10-14
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Sensitive Secret Service Data at Risk of Unauthorized Access and Disclosure
This is a press release from the United States Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General titled "Sensitive Secret Service Data at Risk of Unauthorized Access and Disclosure". From document itself: "Today, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a new report containing troubling findings regarding IT management at the Secret Service. The audit report, USSS Faces Challenges Protecting Sensitive Case Management Systems and Data (OIG-17-01), is a follow-up to the OIG's prior independent investigation into Secret Service employees' improper access and disclosure of information about Congressman Jason Chaffetz contained in a Secret Service database. [...] The resulting audit uncovers a myriad of problems with Secret Service's IT management including inadequate system security plans, systems with expired authorities to operate, inadequate access and audit controls, noncompliance with logical access requirements, inadequate privacy protections, and overretention of records. The OIG concluded that Secret Service's IT management was ineffective because Secret Service has historically not given it priority. The Secret Service CIO's [Chief Information Officer] Office lacked authority, inadequate attention was given to updating IT policies, and Secret Service personnel were not given adequate training regarding IT security and privacy. The Office of Inspector General made 11 recommendations and Secret Service agreed to take the recommended corrective actions."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-10-14
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Major Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security
"Attached for your information is our annual report, 'Major Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security'. We analyzed and incorporated the Department's technical comments as appropriate. Although significant progress has been made over the last 3 years, the Department continues to face long-standing, persistent challenges overseeing and managing its homeland security mission. These challenges affect every aspect of the mission, from preventing terrorism and protecting our borders and transportation systems to enforcing our immigration laws, ensuring disaster resiliency, and securing cyberspace. The Department is continually tested to work as one entity to achieve its complex mission. To better inform and assist the Department, this year we are presenting a broader picture of management challenges by highlighting those we have repeatedly identified over several years. We remain concerned about the systemic nature of these challenges, some of which span multiple Administrations and changes in Department leadership. Overcoming these challenges demands unified action; a motivated and engaged workforce; rigorous, sustained management of acquisitions and grants; and secure information technology (IT) systems that protect sensitive information, all of which must be based on the management fundamentals of data collection, cost-benefit analysis, and performance measurement."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-07
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Independent Auditors' Report on DHS' FY 2016 Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
"The independent public accounting firm KPMG LLP (KPMG) has issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on DHS' consolidated financial statements. KPMG noted that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, DHS' financial position as of September 30, 2016. KPMG issued an adverse opinion on DHS' internal control over financial reporting of its financial statements as of September 30, 2016. The report identifies six significant deficiencies in internal control; three of which are considered material weaknesses. The material weaknesses are in information technology controls and financial system functionality; financial reporting; and property, plant, and equipment. The report also identifies instances of noncompliance with four laws and regulations. […] The Department concurred with the independent auditors' conclusions and indicated that management will continue to implement corrective actions to improve financial management and internal control."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-14
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Better Safeguards Are Needed in USCIS Green Card Issuance
"In March 2016, we reported
challenges in U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration
Services' (USCIS) automation
of benefits processing. We
conducted this follow-up
audit to assess the extent to
which USCIS has
inappropriately issued Green
Cards, evaluate its actions to
recover the cards, and
assess its actions and plans
to prevent similar incidents
in the future. We recommend USCIS
improve Electronic
Immigration System (ELIS)
functionality and develop
internal controls to avoid
inappropriate Green Card
issuance, standardize card
recovery and tracking efforts,
prevent unrecoverable card
use, and enable remote
identity verification and
more secure card delivery
methods."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-11-16
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DHS Tracking of Visa Overstays is Hindered by Insufficient Technology
"DHS has primary responsibility for identifying visa overstays and taking enforcement action to address security risks. We conducted this audit to determine the effectiveness of Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) information technology (IT) systems to review, track, and share information associated with visas."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2017-05-01
