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FBI Bails on Immigrant Probes as Backlogs Mount

Backlog means immigrants will be granted residency before background checks

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 12, 2008 4:45 AM CST
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(Newser) – Immigration officials are expected to grant green cards to tens of thousands of aliens before required FBI background checks, because the Department of Homeland Security is struggling under a ballooning backlog, McClatchy Newspapers reports. Background checks would be performed after immigrants are granted residency, which could be revoked if problems turn up later.

"It defies the imagination that you can require a security check only to decide that you're going to ignore it," said the head of the Center for Immigration Studies. A  spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security insisted: "We will do nothing that cuts corners or compromises national security."

Emilio Gonzalez, director of the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services, testifies before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration processing delays.
Emilio Gonzalez, director of the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services, testifies before a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on immigration processing delays.   (Associated Press)
A traveler presents documents at the US border crossing in Highgate Springs, Vt. Tens of thousands of immigrants will be granted green cards without FBI background checks in order to clear a huge backlog.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
A traveler presents documents at the US border crossing in Highgate Springs, Vt. Tens of thousands of immigrants will be granted green cards without FBI background checks in order to clear a huge backlog.(AP...   (Associated Press)
Pedestrians cross over Interstate 5 at the San Ysidro Border Crossing. Tens of thousands of immigrants will be given green cards without FBI background checks to clear an enormous backlog. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Pedestrians cross over Interstate 5 at the San Ysidro Border Crossing. Tens of thousands of immigrants will be given green cards without FBI background checks to clear an enormous backlog. (AP Photo/Lenny...   (Associated Press)
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Green Card

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FBI • Citizenship and Immigration Services • Department of Homeland Security • background check • green card • immigrant • permanent residency • Center for Immigration Studies • US citizenship

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