Recommendation: The Director of ICE should direct Custody Management to regularly conduct analyses of contracted facility inspections oversight data over time, within and across facilities and regions, and in a manner to enable trends in inspection deficiencies to be identified and addressed. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should direct the Office of Detention Oversight and Custody Management to take steps to ensure that data on deficiencies identified through Office of Detention Oversight's inspections are recorded in a format that is accessible to Custody Management for analysis purposes. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should regularly conduct analyses of data on deficiencies identified through Office of Detention Oversight's inspections. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should ensure that all Operational Review Self-Assessment results and corrective actions are recorded in a format that is conducive to tracking and analysis. (Recommendation 4)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should regularly conduct analyses of detention-related complaint data from relevant offices, including analyses of data over time, within and across facilities and regions, and at a level necessary to identify and address potentially reoccurring complaints. (Recommendation 5)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should require that ERO field offices record any actions taken on, and the resolutions of, detention-related complaints referred to them from the Detention Reporting and Information Line and Administrative Inquiry Unit in a timely manner. (Recommendation 6)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The ICE Director should develop and implement a mechanism to systematically track in its data system the family units ICE separates. (Recommendation 7)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In commenting on a draft of our report, DHS reported that ICE is modifying its data system to track separations and reunification throughout the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations' enforcement process. DHS estimates that this process will be complete by September 30, 2020. To fully address this recommendation, ICE should ensure that it has a mechanism in its data system to systematically track the family units it separates.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should implement a process to collect and maintain data in a readily available format on detained parents or legal guardians of U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident minors to ensure that information on this population is entered into ICE's data system as required by policy. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In November 2019, ICE DHS did not concur with this recommendation, stating that ICE did not have any requirement or need to aggregate data on detained parents or legal guardians of U.S. citizens and legal permanent resident minors and doing so would not better inform ICE's decision-making processes. In a May 2020 update, ICE noted that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers continue to collect and maintain information in EARM and EAGLE regarding whether an alien is a parent, or legal guardian, of a U.S.-born citizen or legal permanent resident minor for actions specific to individual cases; and that this case-specific information is readily available to approved EARM users, including Child Welfare Coordinators. However, as we noted in our report, these data are not readily available because ICE's data on family relationships, including parents or legal guardians of U.S. citizens and legal permanent resident minors, can only be accessed by manually reviewing each separate case file in EARM. Further, ICE's policy states that in pursing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws against parents of minors, ICE personnel should remain cognizant of the impact enforcement actions may have on U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident minors. Without making these data readily available, ICE is not able to account for the overall impact of its enforcement actions on U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident minors whose parents or legal guardians have been detained. In its May 2020 update, ICE also noted that ERO provided Congress with the report, "Deportation of Parents of U.S.-Born Children," incorporating the first half of calendar year 2019, in April 2020. However, as we noted in our report, to generate this semi-annual required report to Congress on removals of parents of U.S.-born citizen children, ICE must review this information manually. Also, there is no similar requirement to report in an aggregate way on parents of U.S. citizen or legal permanent residents who are detained. We continue to believe that collecting and maintaining information in a readily available format on detained parents or legal guardians of U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident minors could help ensure that ICE personnel can identify, evaluate, and share information on this population, as required by ICE policy.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take action to ensure consistent implementation of ICE's policies for handling cases of potentially removable veterans. (Recommendation 1)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, we reported on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) efforts to handle, track, and monitor cases related to veterans. We found that ICE has developed policies for handling cases of potentially removable Veterans, but does not consistently adhere to those policies. Therefore, some veterans who were removed may not have received the level of review and approval that ICE has determined is appropriate for cases involving veterans. We recommended that ICE take action to ensure consistent implementation of its policies for handling cases of potentially removable veterans. ICE agreed with this recommendation. In November 2019, ICE reported that it had established a working group to gather requirements for ERO officer and HSI agent training and will identify all of the lesson plans, practice exercises, and checklists to ensure veteran status information is collected during the booking process. In July 2020, ICE reported that the efforts of the working group were ongoing. We will continue to monitor ICE's efforts to address this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should develop and implement a policy or revise its current polices to ensure that ICE agents and officers identify and document veteran status when interviewing potentially removable individuals. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, we reported on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) efforts to handle, track, and monitor cases related to veterans. We found that ICE has not developed a policy to identify and document all military veterans it encounters. Without such a policy, ICE has no way of knowing whether it has identified all of the veterans it has encountered and, therefore, does not have reasonable assurance that it is consistently implementing its policies and procedures for handling veterans' cases. We recommended that ICE develop and implement a policy or revise its current policies to ensure that ICE offices and agents identify and document veteran status when interviewing potentially removable individuals. ICE agreed with this recommendation. In November 2019, ICE reported that its internal working group is gathering requirements to systematically collect and maintain veteran status information. ICE noted that once the requirement gathering is complete it will revise existing ICE guidance on the issuance of issuing Notices to Appear for individuals with U.S. military service. In July 2020, ICE reported that the working group reviewed and updated its current policy and the Office of Policy and Planning is in the process of reviewing the updates. However, ICE was unable to provide an estimated completion date for finalizing the policy. We will continue to monitor ICE's efforts to address this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should collect and maintain complete and electronic data on veterans in removal proceedings or who have been removed. (Recommendation 3)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In June 2019, we reported on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) efforts to handle, track, and monitor cases related to veterans. We found that ICE does not maintain complete electronic data on veterans who have been placed in removal proceedings or removed. As a result, ICE does not know exactly how many veterans have been placed in removal proceedings or removed, or if their cases have been handled according to ICE's policies. We recommended that ICE collect and maintain electronic data on veterans in removal proceedings or who have been removed. ICE agreed with this recommendation. In November 2019, ICE reported that its internal working group is analyzing systems and processes used by ICE officers and agents to identify the components in need of updating to properly capture veteran status. As of July 2020, the working group has identified fields that will be added to its integrated database to capture and maintain veterans' status information. Once the working group is done gathering systems, procedural, and training requirements, this work will also identify updates needed for ICE policies for handling cases of potentially removable veterans. We will continue to monitor ICE's efforts to address this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should build on existing efforts to use data analytics by employing techniques, such as network analysis, to identify potential fraud indicators in schools petitioning for certification. (Recommendation 2)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of March 2020, ICE officials indicated that they were in the process of addressing GAO's recommendation and would submit an update including supporting documentation when available. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should develop an implementation plan for the project aimed at strengthening background checks for DSOs; that plan should outline how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled. (Recommendation 5)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of March 2020, ICE officials indicated that they were in the process of addressing GAO's recommendation and would submit an update including supporting documentation when available. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should implement mandatory DSO training and verify that the training is completed. (Recommendation 6)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of March 2020, ICE officials indicated that they were in the process of addressing GAO's recommendation and would submit an update including supporting documentation when available. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should complete the development and implementation of its plans for mandatory fraud-specific training for DSOs. (Recommendation 7)

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of March 2020, ICE officials indicated that they were in the process of addressing GAO's recommendation and would submit an update including supporting documentation when available. When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should require staff to document the investigative findings (case resolution codes) of management inquiries in the case management system (Recommendation 8).

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In November 2018, ICE provided documentation of related communication provided to staff. However, this documentation did not include revised policy or guidance documents that requires staff to document the investigative findings in the employee misconduct case management system. As of September 2020, we are continuing to follow-up on ICE's actions to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should modify ICE's annual self-inspection program to track the status of related corrective actions to ensure they are implemented in a timely manner (Recommendation 9).

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In October 2018, ICE stated that it is revising its policy for its self-Inspection program to track the status of related corrective actions. ICE also stated that it will review three program offices for compliance with these revised policies and procedures during fiscal year 2019. The estimated completion date of this recommendation is June 28, 2019. As of September 2020, we are continuing to follow-up on ICE's actions to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should monitor the duration of all cases beginning-to-end by stage and by case type (Recommendation 10).

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In October 2018, ICE stated that beginning in fiscal year 2019, a project team will develop the capability to monitor the duration of all employee misconduct cases beginning-to-end by stage and by case type. The estimated completion date of this recommendation is June 28, 2019. As of September 2020, we are continuing to follow-up on ICE's actions to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should monitor the timeliness of misconduct cases according to established targets for management inquiries and Employee Relations specialist review of proposal and decision of disciplinary outcomes using case management system data (Recommendation 11).

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In October 2018, ICE stated that its Office of Professional Responsibility developed guidance regarding established targets for the completion of management inquiries and will distribute the guidance to applicable staff. ICE also stated that it is developing timeliness targets for Employee Relations specialist review of proposals and decisions of disciplinary outcomes and will also distribute this guidance to applicable staff. The estimated completion date for this recommendation is June 28, 2019. As of September 2020, we are continuing to follow-up on ICE's actions to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should define and document the case management system data fields and methodology to be used for monitoring all established performance targets and provide related guidance to staff (Recommendation 12).

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In October 2018, ICE stated that it will work to define and document the case management system data fields and methodology to be used for monitoring all established performance targets and will provide related guidance to applicable staff. The estimated completion date for this recommendation is June 28, 2019. As of September 2020, we are continuing to follow-up on ICE's actions to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take steps to document and implement its review process to ensure accuracy in its budget documents.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: ICE provided us with documentation showing the agency has implemented a review process to prioritize all agency resource requests and document management approval. As of June 2020, we are awaiting documentation that demonstrates this process has been implemented and provides an assurance of accuracy in ICE's budget documents. We will continue to monitor and evaluate ICE's actions to close this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take steps to assess ICE's adult bed rate methodology to determine the most appropriate way to project the adult bed rate, including any inflation rates used.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of June 2020, ICE is taking steps to assess the adult bed rate methodology. ICE provided a verification and validation assessment on the adult bed rate conducted to meet the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 requirements. From the documentation provided, it is unclear that the assessment examines the methodology of the adult bed rate. According to ICE officials, the agency is working towards conducting an analysis on the methodology of the adult bed rate calculations. We will continue to monitor and evaluate ICE's actions to close the recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take steps to update ICE's adult bed rate methodology by incorporating necessary changes based on its assessment, and ensure the use of appropriate inflation rates and the removal of family beds from all calculations.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As part of addressing this recommendation, ICE developed a bed rate calculator that the agency stated ensures the use of proper inflation rates and the removal of family beds. ICE provided documentation demonstrating changes to the calculations of the adult bed rate, including the removal of family beds from its budget calculations. As of June 2020, we are awaiting documentation from ICE that demonstrates the use of appropriate inflation rates. We will continue to monitor and evaluate ICE's actions to close this recommendation.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take steps to determine the most appropriate way to project the ADP for use in the congressional budget justification and document the methodology and rationale behind its ADP projection. As part of that determination, ICE should consider the extent to which a statistical model could be used to accurately forecast ADP.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: ICE provided us with documentation on the statistical model and its methodology during the course of our review and utilized the model during the fiscal years 2019 and 2020 budget cycles. ICE used the model to provide a point estimate within a specific confidence interval and documented the interval that the agency used and the reasoning behind the use of that interval. As of June 2020, we are following up with ICE regarding the extent to which the model was used to determine the total number of detention beds.

Recommendation: The Director of ICE should take steps to ensure that ICE's budget estimating process more fully addresses cost estimating best practices.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: As of June 2020, ICE is taking steps to address this recommendation, and has provided documentation. For example, ICE has developed a sliding bed rate scale from conducting a sensitivity analysis and has detailed some of its calculations and assumptions for the adult bed rate. We will continue to work with ICE to obtain additional documentation needed to evaluate the agency's efforts to improve its detention cost estimating practices.

Recommendation: To help ensure that agencies' policies and oversight are fully consistent with The Attorney General's Guidelines Regarding the Use of Confidential Informants, the Assistant Secretary of ICE and the Commandant of USCG should update their respective agencies' informant policies and corresponding monitoring processes to explicitly address the Guidelines' provisions on oversight of informants' illegal activities.

Agency: Department of Homeland Security: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Status: Open

Comments: In December 2016, ICE issued a memo regarding changes to its policies for the registration and suitability of confidential informants. The memo included updated forms to oversee those aspects of confidential informant oversight. In April 2017, ICE officials informed GAO that the agency planned for a working group to update the Informants Handbook and the Undercover Operations Handbook. As of October 2018, ICE reported that officials had made draft updates to the handbooks and that these updates were undergoing review. In June 2019, ICE reported that the updates were expected to be finalized in July 2019. The handbook updates had not been finalized as of February 2020, and, at that time, ICE officials reported that the handbooks were undergoing additional updates related to a separate effort unrelated to GAO's recommendation. As of June 2020, ICE officials did not have an estimated completion date for finalizing revisions to the handbooks. When the updated handbooks are available for GAO's review, we will assess the extent to which they address our recommendation.