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INS
Expands Checks of Applicants—Will Increase Processing Times May 15, 2002 The Immigration and Naturalization Service has stated that
it is now checking the names of all applicants for immigration benefits against
a federal database of terrorists and law breakers — even if it means delays
for people seeking visas, permanent residence, or citizenship. "We want to know as much as we can about visitors to the United States,
that people who are here, are here for the right reasons," Immigration and
Naturalization spokesman William Strassberger said Wednesday. The INS has been checking immigrants who applied for certain types of
benefits since August 1999. It
expanded the checks in January to include all applicants, but not all district
offices had the equipment and staff to comply. In a May 10 memo, the INS repeated its policy of checking all applicants. The
memo also said the names of all people going through naturalization ceremonies
should be run through the database. "It is my expectation that no ceremony will proceed after May 28, 2002,
without (the) checks having been accomplished, and starting today, no new
ceremony should be scheduled unless arrangements can be made to conduct (the)
checks prior to the ceremony," William Yates, head of INS immigration
services, said in the memo. INS submits the names of applicants to the Interagency Border Inspection System, or IBIS. The database is commonly referred to as the "lookout list." The Customs Service manages it, but the INS has had more access to the database since September 11. |
