GAO-05-813 Immigration Enforcement: Weaknesses Hinder Employment Verification and Worksite Enforcement Efforts

GAO-05-822T Immigration Enforcement: Preliminary Observations on Employment Verification and Worksite Enforcement Efforts

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, authorizes the federal government to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to train officers to assist in identifying those individuals who are in the country illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for supervising state and local officers under this program. GAO was asked to review this program. This report reviews (1) the extent to which ICE has designed controls to govern 287(g) program implementation; and (2) how program resources are being used and the activities, benefits, and concerns reported by participating agencies. GAO reviewed memorandums of agreement (MOA) between ICE and the 29 program participants as of September 1, 2007. GAO compared controls ICE designed to govern the 287(g) program with criteria in GAO's Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government. GAO interviewed officials from both ICE and participating agencies on program implementation, resources, and results. Among other things, GAO recommends that the Assistant Secretary for ICE document the program objective, document and communicate supervisory activities, and specify data each agency is to collect and report.

GAO-05-805 Information Technology: Management Improvements Needed on Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Infrastructure Modernization Program