DHS to Give Residency to Unchecked Aliens

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:23 AM

By: Newsmax Staff

The Homeland Security Department is set to grant permanent residency to tens of thousands of immigrants before the FBI can complete a required background check.

Eligible immigrants are those whose fingerprint checks reveal no criminal convictions or arrests, but whose names have not yet cleared the FBI’s criminal or intelligence files after six months of waiting, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Those who do not clear the name check will have their legal status revoked and be deported.

“The decision demonstrates how federal agencies are struggling to keep up with surging immigration applications while applying stringent post-9/11 background checks,â€