Trio of problems blamed for INS screening faults

[Aknauta]

washingtontimes.com


March 11, 2003


Trio of problems blamed for INS screening faults
By Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Inadequate resources, faulty computer data and insufficient training prevented Immigration and Naturalization Service inspectors from properly screening foreign visitors last year at the nation's ports of entry, including would-be terrorists, illegal aliens and smugglers, a report said yesterday.

The Justice Department's Office of Inspector General recommended the INS take immediate steps to improve its primary-inspection operations at the nation's 220 airports designated as official ports of entry, at which nearly 70 million visitors were inspected last year.
INS has since been transferred to the Department of Homeland Security, and the inspector general's report was forwarded to officials at the new agency, who now have responsibility for overseeing the primary and secondary inspection functions at air ports of entry.

Link (http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030311-91496490.htm)

[jhf]

Mr. Fine doesn't mention the fact that, prior to "9/11", II's (Immigration Inspectors) were given 45 minutes to "clear" (inspect) flights. The 45-minute rule applied to all flights to be inspected, whether there were 4 passengers or 400; whether there were 4 II's or 24 II's (very unlikely). According to my math, if an overseas flight arrived with 300 passengers and 10 II's were assigned to "clear" it, each II would have to inspect an average of 30 passengers. Since they had 45 minutes to clear the flight, the II's would have an average of a minute and a half to inspect each arriving passenger.

During this minute and a half, the II would have to look at the passenger's passport, check the visa, ask them if the information was correct, answer any questions, check the passenger's name against the computer data bases, prepare any necessary permits, etc., etc. Obviously, most of the checks were cursory, at best. The "45-minute" rule was rigidly enforced. II's weren't criticized for those they admitted to the U.S.; but they were criticized if they took enough time to do a legitimate inspection.

The "45-minute" rule came about because the airlines and the travel industry were complaining that Immigration was taking too long to clear flights. No problem; the 45-minute rule comes into being. And no one in a postion of authority at INS,

[jhf]

Sorry about that; my fat fingers must have hit the wrong key. I was writing that no one in a position of authority at INS, in the Congress, or at the White House had "the sand" to oppose the 45-minute rule.

After "9/11" the time limit was allegedly repealed, but it is still being applied at some airports - LAX for one. There has even been a proposal by some bonehead to reduce the time to 25 minutes.

INS may no longer exist in its old form, but it's still there. II's are inspecting, Border Patrol Agents are patrolling, etc., etc. And many of the same people who are allegedly concerned about national security, are complaining that traffic and trade are being slowed down because these people are doing their jobs. If anyone tells you that this nation's borders are secure, they either don't know what they're talking about or they're intentionally misrepresenting the facts.