Soviet Refugees: Processing and Admittance to the United States Has Improved
Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO evaluated the Department of State's and Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) efforts to implement section 599D of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for fiscal year (FY) 1990, which requires those agencies to categorize Soviet refugee applicants and give certain applicants an enhanced opportunity to qualify for refugee status, focusing on: (1) whether State and INS implementation of Section 599D and the refugee processing procedures in Moscow and the District of Columbia were effective; (2) whether the INS adjudication process in Moscow was fair, consistent, and conformed with INS guidance; (3) whether the Soviet refugee admissions ceiling would be met for FY 1991; and (4) the status of public interest parole offers being extended to Soviets denied refugee status.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration and Naturalization Service | Because INS officers in Moscow were not adjudicating category members' refugee claims in accordance with current INS guidance, the Commissioner, INS, should ensure that the adjudication process in Moscow conforms with INS guidance by either: (1) requiring that INS officers in Moscow comply with existing guidance; or (2) modifying the guidance criteria to more nearly reflect actual practice while remaining consistent with section 599D. |
The INS Commissioner, in late 1991, issued guidance requiring INS officers in Moscow to comply with existing refugee adjudication guidance.
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