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Yuma Sector Border Patrol Struggled to Meet TEDS Standards for Single Adult Men but Generally Met TEDS Standards for Other Populations
From the Document: "As part of OIG's [Office of Inspector General's] annual, congressionally mandated oversight of CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] holding facilities, we conducted unannounced inspections of five locations in the general area of Yuma, Arizona, to evaluate CBP's compliance with applicable detention standards. [...] We made one recommendation to Yuma sector Border Patrol to monitor data integrity. We did not make recommendations on TEDS [National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search] compliance because there are relevant outstanding recommendations from a prior review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-08-14
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FEMA's Waiver Authority Under the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018
From the Document: "Several challenges limited our ability to fulfill the mandate in Section 1216 of the 'Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018' (DRRA). For instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) data system does not capture Individuals and Households Program (IHP) assistance data in a manner that allows us to accurately calculate a percentage of distributions made in error in any 12-month period. In addition, the amount of data required to conduct the audit represents millions of rows of data, as well as underlying supporting documents. These efforts require considerable resources for FEMA to provide, and the Office of Inspector General to review, the IHP information. Facing these limitations, we adopted an alternate approach to estimate FEMA's percentage of distributions made in error. Specifically, we analyzed FEMA's IHP Recoupment Processing Executive Summary for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 and concluded that, for these fiscal years, FEMA's percentage of distributions identified for recoupment was, on average, less than 1 percent -- well below the DRRA's 4 percent threshold."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-05-10
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Lessons Learned from DHS' Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative
From the Document: "In advance of Federal approval for emergency use of the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, DHS prepared to coordinate employee vaccinations by tasking its components to identify eligible personnel in health care and frontline occupations in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. DHS acted swiftly to identify employees in vaccination priority groups, but provided minimal guidance to components, resulting in inconsistent responses across the Department as to which types of employees were deemed eligible. DHS only partially committed staff resources and delayed establishing a comprehensive, full-time task force to manage the effort. Also, at times, DHS' communications to its employees were inconsistent or unclear, causing confusion among some employees. DHS successfully vaccinated some employees, but missing and erroneous personnel data in DHS systems used to facilitate vaccinations contributed to DHS falling short of reaching its vaccination goals. This report identifies areas of consideration for DHS to better prepare for future emergencies and pandemics. We make one recommendation to improve DHS' ability to identify essential employees, when necessary, in future emergency situations. Also, DHS should consider improving its preparedness by developing incident response protocols that include a plan for establishing and staffing an incident response team. To foster trust among its workforce, DHS should strive to communicate directly and consistently with personnel during future initiatives. Finally, DHS should consider devising and implementing a methodology for conducting oversight of employee data."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-05-10
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CBP and CWMD Need to Improve Monitoring and Maintenance of Radiation Portal Monitor Systems (Redacted)
From the Highlights: "CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] uses RPM [Radiation Portal Monitor] systems as the primary means to scan for radiological and nuclear threats and materials at U.S. ports of entry. We conducted this audit in response to a hotline complaint. Our objective is to determine the extent to which CBP monitors and maintains its RPM systems in accordance with DHS acquisition guidelines, policies, and procedures. [...] We made two recommendations to improve the monitoring and maintenance of CBP's RPM systems."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-04-27
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DHS Actions Related to an I&A Intelligence Product Deviated from Standard Procedures (Redacted)
From the Highlights: "Our objective was to determine whether DHS followed its standard process when it drafted, edited, and disseminated an I&A [Office of Intelligence and Analysis] intelligence product regarding Russian interference in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. [...] I&A, working with relevant external offices as appropriate, should identify and implement changes to the review and dissemination process for I&A's election-related intelligence products to ensure they are in accordance with applicable policies and guidelines."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-04-26
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Violations of ICE Detention Standards at South Texas ICE Processing Center
From the Document: "During our unannounced inspection of South Texas in Pearsall, Texas, we identified violations of ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement ] detention standards that compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. South Texas complied with standards for legal services, the voluntary work program, and detainee classification and provided sufficient medical care to detainees. However, we found that South Texas did not meet standards for grievances, segregation, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] response, or communications with detainees. Specifically, the facility was late responding to grievances and did not document grievance resolutions. Grievances included complaints about mistreatment by staff, some of which the facility substantiated. Also, South Texas did not consistently provide required services for detainees in segregation, including access to legal materials and razors; nor were we able to confirm the facility consistently provided access to legal calls, mail, commissary, and linen exchange due to missing documentation of these activities in facility records. In addressing COVID-19, South Texas did not consistently enforce precautions including use of masks and social distancing but did begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations to detainees through partnerships with local governments. Further, ICE and the facility did not consistently respond to detainee requests in a timely manner and ICE did not log requests sent by detainees using paper forms. Finally, we determined the diminished detainee population at South Texas resulted in ICE paying roughly $18 million for unused bed space for a 1-year period under a guaranteed minimum contract."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-04-22
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Management Alert - FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Operating Procedures Are Inconsistent with Previous Interpretation of Long-Standing Regulations for Eligible Funeral Expenses
From the Summary of Issues: "We are issuing this management alert to advise the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that its Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Funeral Assistance Program operating procedures are inconsistent with FEMA's previous interpretation of long-standing regulations for ineligible funeral expenses established in FEMA's 'Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide' (IAPPG). This interpretation of regulations for ineligible funeral expenses remains unchanged in FEMA Policy 104-21-0001 (COVID-19-specific policy). During our ongoing audit of the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program, we determined, and verified through analyzing a sample of completed program applications, that FEMA regularly reimburses applicants for expenses expressly excluded from funeral assistance in the IAPPG. Due to the unprecedented size of this program and the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA must take action to curb reimbursement of ineligible expenses to avoid further waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-04-13
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ICE Spent Funds on Unused Beds, Missed COVID-19 Protocols and Detention Standards While Housing Migrant Families in Hotels
From the Document: "We evaluated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) plans to house migrant families in hotels and how ICE selected a contractor to implement these plans. From April 2021 to September 2021, we conducted remote inspections of the ICE hotel facilities to assess compliance by the contractor, Endeavors, with ICE detention standards and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] requirements. [...] We made four recommendations to improve ICE's contracting and oversight of hotel facility management and operations."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Shiffer, John D.; Christian, Stephanie; Stumpf, Ian . . .
2022-04-12
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FEMA Successfully Assisted HHS in Providing Shelter and Supplies to Unaccompanied Children from the Southwest Border
From the Highlights: "In March of 2021, the Secretary of Homeland Security directed FEMA to support the government-wide operation to safely receive, shelter, and transfer unaccompanied children from the U.S. southwest border for a period of 90 days. We conducted this audit to determine the extent to which FEMA coordinated shelter and supplies to unaccompanied minors along the southwest border. [...] From March 13, 2021 through June 11, 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) accomplished its operational goals to help the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provide shelter and supplies to unaccompanied children from the U.S. southwest border. Specifically, FEMA worked closely with HHS to establish 14 emergency intake sites in high priority locations in Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. FEMA also assisted HHS to build out 23,253 beds and provide other critical supplies, such as food, water, beds, blankets, and medical supplies at emergency intake sites. As a result, during this time period, HHS, with FEMA's help, provided shelter to about 27,000 unaccompanied children."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-31
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CBP Needs Improved Oversight for Its Centers of Excellence and Expertise
From the Highlights: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not established performance standards for the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) in accordance with the 'Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015' (TFTEA). This absence of performance standards made it difficult to determine to what extent establishing the Centers improved the assessment, collection, and protection of trade revenue. However, we identified several areas in which CBP could improve its compliance with the TFTEA, its procedural guidance for the Centers, and the reliability of trade import and enforcement data in its information systems. Without established performance standards, CBP cannot determine whether the Centers are achieving established goals, operating as intended, collecting and protecting trade revenue owed, or meeting their legislated mission as set forth in the TFTEA. CBP management also cannot make informed decisions about the Centers' operations and activities related to collecting trade revenues. Finally, without performance standards and adequate guidance on procedures, there is heightened risk of importers illicitly attempting to avoid paying duties and fees and circumventing trade practices, defrauding the Federal Government, and undermining lawful business."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-31
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Office for Bombing Prevention Needs to Improve Its Management and Assessment of Capabilities to Counter Improvised Explosive Devices
From the Highlights: "OBP's [Office for Bombing Prevention] primary mission is to protect life and critical infrastructure by building capabilities in the public and private sectors to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents. We conducted this audit to determine to what extent OBP manages and assesses national capabilities to counter IEDs [improvised explosive devices]."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-29
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FEMA Followed Its Declaration Request Policies, but Could Improve Its Records Management
From the Highlights: "States, territories, and tribes may request Presidential disaster declarations through FEMA, which reviews the requests and makes recommendations to the President. From January 2017 to July 2020, total obligated funding exceeded $113.6 billion for 572 approved disaster declarations. Our objective was to determine whether FEMA followed its policies and procedures consistently when responding to state, territorial, and tribal declaration requests."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-23
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Management Alert - Immediate Removal of All Detainees from the Torrance County Detention Facility
From the Background: "ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] is required to comply with detention standards and establish an environment that protects the health, safety, and rights of detainees. As mandated by Congress, we conduct unannounced inspections of ICE detention facilities to ensure compliance with detention standards. [...] From February 1, 2022, to February 3, 2022, we conducted an unannounced, in-person inspection of Torrance to determine whether it complied with the 2011 PBNDS ['Performance Based National Detention Standards']. [...] During our inspection, we found such egregious conditions in the facility that we are issuing this management alert to notify ICE. We have determined that ICE must take immediate steps to address the critical facility staffing shortages and unsanitary living conditions that have led to health and safety risks for detainees at Torrance."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-03-16
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S&T Needs to Improve Its Management and Oversight of R&D Projects
From the Document: "S&T [Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate] aims to deliver timely, innovative technology solutions to bolster DHS mission operations. To do this, S&T works with DHS and its components to identify capability gaps in DHS operations and to research and develop technologies to address those gaps. We conducted this audit to determine whether S&T executes R&D [research and development] projects in accordance with Federal and DHS guidelines, policies, and procedures. [...] We made five recommendations to S&T to improve the execution of R&D projects."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Harsche, Richard; Christopher, Peter; Chavez, Rolando . . .
2022-03-07
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I&A Identified Threats Prior to January 6, 2021, but Did Not Issue Any Intelligence Products Before the U.S. Capitol Breach (Redacted)
From the Document: "We initiated this review to determine the actions of Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A) relating to the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. [...] We made five recommendations to ensure that I&A is better equipped to respond to similar events in the future."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Lang, Erika; Bacon, Brendan; Flatow, Gregory . . .
2022-03-04
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Management Alert - Reporting Suspected Fraud of Lost Wages Assistance
From the Document: "This alert informs [Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell] of an urgent issue [Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General] discovered during an ongoing audit and the actions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has taken to address this issue. We found that state workforce agencies in the Lost Wage Assistance (LWA) program are not reporting identified or suspected LWA fraud to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General as required. We conducted this work pursuant to the 'Inspector General Act of 1978,' as amended, and in connection with an audit being performed according to generally accepted government auditing standards."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-02-28
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CBP Border Patrol Stations and Ports of Entry in Southern California Generally Met TEDS Standards
From the Highlights: "As part of OIG [Office of Inspector General]'s annual, congressionally mandated oversight of CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] holding facilities, we conducted unannounced inspections of six locations in the San Diego area of California to evaluate CBP's compliance with applicable detention standards ['National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search' (TEDS)]."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-02-07
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FEMA Should Apply Lessons Learned from the STEP Pilot Program Implementation in Puerto Rico to Future Programs
From the Highlights: "FEMA's STEP [Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power] Pilot Program funded emergency repairs to allow residents to shelter in their homes in Puerto Rico following two hurricanes in September 2017. We conducted this audit to evaluate FEMA's effectiveness in meeting its goals and objectives relating to timeliness, procurement, and oversight of the STEP Pilot Program in Puerto Rico."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-02-04
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Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
From the Highlights: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, National 'Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 of each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the report and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion made in the report. [...] Williams, Adley & Company - DC, LLP [limited liability partnerships] (Williams Adley), under contract with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, issued an Independent Accountant's Report on the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) FY 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report. USCG management prepared the Budget Formulation Compliance Report and the related assertions to comply with the requirements of the ONDCP Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', dated September 9, 2021. Based on its review, nothing came to Williams Adley's attention that caused it to believe that USCG's FY 2021 Budget Formulation Compliance Report and related assertions are not presented in conformity with the criteria in the ONDCP Circular. Williams Adley did not make any recommendations as a result of its review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-28
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Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2021 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
From the Highlights: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the agency's submission and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion in the report. [...] Williams, Adley & Company - DC, LLP [limited liability partnerships] (Williams Adley), under contract with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, issued an Independent Accountant's Report on U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) Detailed Accounting Report. USCG management prepared the Table of FY 2021 Drug Control Obligations and related assertions to comply with the requirements of the ONDCP Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', dated September 9, 2021. Based on its review, nothing came to Williams Adley's attention that caused it to believe that the Coast Guard's FY 2021 Detailed Accounting Report and related assertions are not presented in conformity with criteria in the Circular. Williams Adley did not make any recommendations as a result of its review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-28
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Rio Grande Valley Area Border Patrol Struggles with High Volumes of Detainees and Cases of Prolonged Detention but Has Taken Consistent Measures to Improve Conditions in Facilities
From the Highlights: "[W]e conducted unannounced inspections of six locations in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas to evaluate CBP's [U.S. Customs and Border Protection's] compliance with applicable detention standards. [...] We did not make recommendations for these inspections because there are relevant outstanding recommendations from a prior review. [...] [W]e observed that all four U.S. Border Patrol facilities we inspected struggled with overcrowded holding rooms. [...] Some single adults and some families had been in detention longer than 72 hours. Although noncitizen unaccompanied children (NUC) were held in crowded conditions, CBP met all other 'National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search' (TEDS) for NUCs at the time of our site visit, at the facility we inspected. CBP also met standards at an Office of Field Operations port of entry we visited. During our site visits, we observed that Border Patrol had taken measures to address the challenges of prolonged detention, including providing access to showers, changes of clothing, hot meals, and fresh fruit. With a high volume of apprehended single adults and families, Border Patrol set up a temporary outdoor processing site which did not meet some TEDS standards but lessened overcrowding and health risks for detainees. The Border Patrol has taken measures to improve general health screening and reduce the risk of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] infection. However, the high volume of apprehensions at the time of our site visit limited the effectiveness of these measures."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-27
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Review of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers' Fiscal Year 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
From the Document: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews,' requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 of each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the report and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion made in the report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-27
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Review of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Fiscal Year 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
From the Highlights: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 of each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the report and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion made in the report. [...] Williams, Adley & Company - DC, LLP [limited liability partnership] (Williams Adley), under contract with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, issued an Independent Accountant's Report on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) FY 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report. ICE management prepared the Budget Formulation Compliance Report and related assertions to comply with the requirements of the ONDCP Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', dated September 9, 2021. Based on its review, nothing came to Williams Adley's attention that caused it to believe that ICE's FY 2021 Budget Formulation Compliance Report and related assertions are not presented in conformity with the criteria in the ONDCP Circular. Williams Adley did not make any recommendations as a result of its review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-27
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Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Fiscal Year 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
From the Document: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews,' requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 of each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the report and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion made in the report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-27
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Review of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Fiscal Year 2021 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
From the Highlights: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews,' requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the agency's submission and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion in the report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-25
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Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Fiscal Year 2021 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
From the Document: "The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews,' requires National Drug Control Program agencies to submit to the ONDCP Director by February 1 each year a detailed accounting of all funds expended for National Drug Control Program activities during the previous fiscal year. At least every 3 years, the Office of Inspector General is required to review the agency's submission and provide a conclusion about the reliability of each assertion in the report."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-25
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Review of Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers' Fiscal Year 2021 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
From the Highlights: "Williams, Adley & Company - DC, LLP [limited liability partnership] (Williams Adley), under contract with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, issued an Independent Accountant's Report on the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers' (FLETC) Detailed Accounting Report. FLETC management prepared the Table of FY 2021 Drug Control Obligations and related assertions to comply with the requirements of the ONDCP [Office of National Drug Control Policy] Circular, 'National Drug Control Program Agency Compliance Reviews', dated September 9, 2021. Based on its review, nothing came to Williams Adley's attention that caused it to believe that FLETC's FY 2021 Detailed Accounting Report and related assertions are not presented in conformity with the criteria in the Circular. Williams Adley did not make any recommendations as a result of its review."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-25
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CISA Should Validate Priority Telecommunications Services Performance Data
From the Highlights: "Priority Telecommunications Services leverage the public telephone network to provide telecommunication for national security and emergency preparedness during times of call congestion. We conducted this review in response to a hotline complaint regarding connectivity and testing of DHS' telecommunications services. Our objective was to determine whether DHS effectively supported operable and interoperable emergency communications for Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government officials and critical infrastructure operators during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-10
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Trusted Traveler Revocations for Americans Associated with the 2018-2019 Migrant Caravan [redacted]
From the Highlights: "In early 2019, journalists, advocates, and attorneys alleged in the media that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revoked their Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) memberships or took other actions to harass them because of their work related to the migrant caravan. We conducted this review to evaluate TTP membership revocations of three U.S. citizens associated with the migrant caravan. [...] We made two recommendations to CBP to ensure two TTP membership revocations were based on quality and accurate information and to issue guidance to personnel about TTP revocation standards. [...] We specifically looked at the circumstances surrounding the TTP membership revocation of three U.S. citizens and found that CBP revoked these memberships after discovering links to information that it considered derogatory and a potential security risk. In two of the revocations, CBP did not assess the quality or accuracy of the potentially derogatory information at any step of the process. Specifically, we determined that CBP officers did not evaluate unsubstantiated information, and made unsupported conclusions[.] [...] CBP concurred with both recommendations. We consider one recommendation resolved and open and one recommendation unresolved and open."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
Burns, Amy; Neuburger, Matthew; Bhagat-Smith, Kay . . .
2022-01-08
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USCIS' U Visa Program is Not Managed Effectively and is Susceptible to Fraud (Redacted)
From the DHS OIG [Office of Inspector General] Highlights: "Congress created the U visa program to protect victims and help law enforcement investigate and prosecute serious crimes. However, USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] did not adequately manage the U visa program. First, USCIS did not fully address U visa program fraud risks. For example, we identified 10 USCIS approved petitions with forged, unauthorized, altered or suspicious law enforcement certifications. USCIS also did not track outcomes of U visa program fraud referrals. As a result, individuals may be discouraged from reporting suspected fraud and USCIS may miss opportunities to address fraud risks in the program. Second, USCIS did not establish quantifiable and measurable performance goals to ensure the U visa program achieves its intended purpose. Additionally, USCIS did not ensure its data systems accurately captured the number of U visas granted. Without better tracking and accurate data, USCIS cannot properly monitor the program. Finally, USCIS did not effectively manage the growing backlog of petitions. Effective management of the backlog of eligible petitioners awaiting initial adjudication is critical to offer timely protection. The issues identified occurred because USCIS has not taken steps to address and implement recommendations from previous internal and external U visa program reviews."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2022-01-06
