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IG: Old info hampers immigration enforcement

By Alice Lipowicz
Staff Writer

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s database for tracking illegal aliens is riddled with out-of-date information, according to a new report from DHS Inspector General Richard Skinner.

Skinner found 322 records filed past deadline among 3,201 records examined in the Deportable Alien Control System (DACS) database, which contains records of illegal aliens being held in detention facilities.

“For 10 percent of the records examined at five of eight sites, detainee data was not recorded or updated in DACS within the first five days of detainment or transfer,” the report said. The agency requires that such data be recorded or updated within two days.

In addition, at most sites, detainees were listed as being in the agency’s custody when they were not; the detention facilities where they were held also were listed incorrectly, the report stated.

Skinner recommends that Immigration and Customs Enforcement issue formal instructions to field offices on timely entries to the database, and periodically reconcile the information.