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FBI Swamped With Checking on Immigrants

'Inefficient' process has legal aliens waiting 3 years; criminals slip in

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The FBI’s system of background checks has forced many legal immigrants to wait years before getting into the US or gaining citizenship, the Justice Department finds. The program, deluged by more names and wider checks after 9/11, has struggled with old technology, poor training, and swamped supervisors, the Los Angeles Times reports. And criminals could be cruising through the system.

“The name-check process can result in lengthy delays and the risk of inaccurate information,” Justice's top inspector said, calling current methods “inefficient and untimely.” A rep said the FBI was following the inspector’s advice, adding that more than 4 million name-check requests had been made in fiscal 2007. In March, 327,000 names were awaiting validation; some dated back 3 years.

FBI Director Robert Mueller, right, shakes hands with Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine before a hearing Thursday, June 6, 2002.
FBI Director Robert Mueller, right, shakes hands with Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine before a hearing Thursday, June 6, 2002.   (KRT Photos)
Inspector General Glenn Fine says the FBI's name check program is inefficient and untimely.
Inspector General Glenn Fine says the FBI's name check program is "inefficient and untimely."   (Getty Images)
Abbas Amirichimeh is a microchip designer in Irvine who the ACLU says has been waiting more than four years for a response to his naturalization application.
Abbas Amirichimeh is a microchip designer in Irvine who the ACLU says has been waiting more than four years for a response to his naturalization application.   (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
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More on the backlog
CNN

Immigrants sue over FBI's slow checkups
Associated Press

Bush orders more worker background checks
Los Angeles Times

US

 
immigration • War on Terror • Department of Justice • FBI • illegal immigrant • homeland security • background check • Inspector General

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