Immigration Enforcement: Problems in Controlling the Flow of Illegal Aliens

GAO discussed the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) efforts to address immigration enforcement problems and the administration's 1993 plan to combat illegal alien smuggling by crime syndicates. GAO noted that: (1) INS believes that the deterrent value of increased alien detention and preflight inspection programs could strengthen its illegal alien immigration control efforts; (2) although the administration's 1993 plan to combat alien smuggling by crime syndicates involves strengthening law enforcement efforts, combatting smuggling at its source, interdicting and redirecting smuggling ships in transit, and expediting exclusion procedures processing, the plan does not address alien detention and removal barriers; (3) immigration policy, international relations, international economic disparity, and the lack of resources, detention space and sufficient penalties inhibit INS from deporting, excluding, and preventing the arrival of illegal aliens; and (4) Congress and the administration need to resolve border control and deportation issues before INS can be expected to effectively control illegal alien immigration.