Associated Press - 11.14.2002

 

 

Homeland Security Bill to Split INS 

By Suzanne Gamboa

WASHINGTON (AP)– The new Homeland Security Department would absorb the Immigration and Naturalization Service and split it in two parts, which critics fear would result in poorer service for new immigrants.

The legislation creating the department would set up a new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services reporting to a deputy secretary, while protecting the country's borders would fall under the auspices of an undersecretary, a much higher position within the agency.

"Fixing the INS is the most critical part of this homeland security legislation," said Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who has sought to abolish the agency.

Several immigration advocates said Wednesday that INS's mission of serving newcomers may be doomed because the citizenship bureau would not have the same status as the new border security bureau.

"It does not give the services aspect a voice or clout within the agency," said Larry Gonzalez, a director for National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Gideon Aronoff, Washington representative for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, said the bill creates "even greater danger that the important values of immigration services will be lost or diluted."

The legislation also creates an ombudsman to deal with complaints against the citizenship bureau.