USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Report NumberOIG-23-40Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2023
USCIS Should Improve Controls to Restrict Unauthorized Access to Its Systems and Information
Report NumberOIG-22-65Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2022USCIS' U Visa Program is Not Managed Effectively and is Susceptible to Fraud (REDACTED)
Report NumberOIG-22-10Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2022Continued Reliance on Manual Processing Slowed USCIS' Benefits Delivery during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Report NumberOIG-22-12Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyOversight AreaFiscal Year2022USCIS Needs to Improve Its Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Process
Executive SummaryWe identified deficiencies in E-Verify’s processes for confirming identity during employment verification. E-Verify’s photo matching process is not fully automated, but rather, relies on employers to confirm individuals’ identities by manually reviewing photos. We attribute these deficiencies to USCIS not developing or evaluating the plans and internal controls needed to improve its processes and detect, track, and investigate system errors. Until USCIS addresses E-Verify’s deficiencies, it cannot ensure the system provides accurate employment eligibility results. We made 10 recommendations to improve E-Verify’s accuracy, internal controls, and workload capabilities. USCIS concurred with all 10 recommendations.
Report NumberOIG-21-56Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyKeywordsFiscal Year2021DHS Has Not Effectively Implemented the Prompt Asylum Pilot Programs
Executive SummaryThis report offers DHS OIG’s initial observations on the PACR and HARP programs based on our March 2020 visit to the El Paso, Texas area and analysis of data and information provided by CBP and USCIS headquarters. We determined that CBP rapidly implemented the pilot programs and expanded them without a full evaluation of the pilots’ effectiveness. Additionally, we determined there are potential challenges with the PACR and HARP programs related to how aliens are held and provided access to counsel and representation, and how CBP and USCIS assign staff to program duties and track aliens in the various agency systems. We made six recommendations to improve PACR and HARP program implementation. DHS did not concur with five of the six recommendations, stating that lawsuits and the COVID-19 pandemic had, in effect, ended the programs. We reviewed evidence provided by CBP and concluded the lawsuits themselves did not terminate the PACR and HARP pilot programs. Therefore, the recommendations remain open and unresolved. If the programs resume, we plan to resume actual or virtual site visits and issue a report detailing DHS’ full implementation of the PACR and HARP pilot programs.
Report NumberOIG-21-16Issue DateDocument FileKeywordsFiscal Year2021Testimony of Acting Inspector General Jennifer L. Costello, Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Before the U.S. House of Representatives, "The Trump Administration’s Child Separation Policy: Substantiated Allegations of Mistreatment"
Data Quality Improvements Needed to Track Adjudicative Decisions
Report NumberOIG-19-40Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyOversight AreaFiscal Year2019USCIS' Medical Admissibility Screening Process Needs Improvement
Executive SummaryUSCIS has inadequate controls for verifying that foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent residence status meet health-related standards for admissibility. First, USCIS is not properly vetting the physicians it designates as civil surgeons. We determined that USCIS designated physicians with a history of patient abuse or a criminal record as civil surgeons. This is occurring because USCIS does not have adequate policies to ensure only suitable physicians are designated as civil surgeons. Second, when reviewing these foreign nationals’ required medical forms, ISOs are accepting incomplete and inaccurate forms because they are not adequately trained and because USCIS is not enforcing its existing policies. USCIS may be placing foreign nationals at risk of abuse by some civil surgeons. USCIS could also be exposing the U.S. population to contagious or dangerous health conditions from foreign nationals erroneously granted lawful permanent resident status.
Report NumberOIG-18-78Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyOversight AreaKeywordsFiscal Year2018Verification Review: Better Safeguards Are Needed in USCIS Green Card Issuance (OIG-17-11)
Executive SummaryWe conducted a verification review to determine the adequacy, effectiveness, and timeliness of USCIS' corrective actions to address the seven report recommendations in Better Safeguards Are Needed in USCIS Green Card Issuance, OIG-17-11, November 16, 2016. At the time of our audit fieldwork in spring 2016, USCIS’ efforts to address the errors were inadequate. USCIS conducted a number of efforts to recover the inappropriately issued cards; however, these efforts also were not fully successful. At the time of our audit fieldwork in spring 2016, USCIS’ efforts to address the errors were inadequate. USCIS conducted a number of efforts to recover the inappropriately issued cards; however, these efforts also were not fully successful.
Report NumberOIG-18-61Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyOversight AreaKeywordsFiscal Year2018