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Government Accountability Office
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Security-related Reports

Border Control

• Border Security: Stronger Actions Needed to Assess and Mitigate Risks of the Visa Waiver Program GAO-06-854, July 28, 2006 [PDF 2.36MB]
• Immigration Benefits: Sixteenth Report Required by the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 GAO-07-796R, April 27, 2007
• Homeland Security: Information on Training New Border Patrol Agents GAO-07-540R, March 30, 2007
• Homeland Security: US-VISIT Program Faces Operational, Technological, and Management Challenges GAO-07-632T, March 20, 2007 [PDF 1.73MB]
• Secure Border Initiative: SBInet Planning and Management Improvements Needed to Control Risks GAO-07-504T, February 27, 2007 [PDF 2.32MB]
• Homeland Security: US-VISIT Has Not Fully Met Expectations and Longstanding Program Management Challenges Need to Be Addressed GAO-07-499T, February 16, 2007 [PDF 1.73MB]
• Secure Border Initiative: SBInet Expenditure Plan Needs to Better Support Oversight and Accountability GAO-07-309, February 15, 2007 [PDF 3.40MB]
• Homeland Security: Planned Expenditures for U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Program Need to Be Adequately Defined and Justified GAO-07-278, February 14, 2007
• Border Security: US-VISIT Program Faces Strategic, Operational, and Technological Challenges at Land Ports of Entry GAO-07-378T, January 31, 2007 [ PDF 1.72MB]
• Border Security: US-VISIT Program Faces Strategic, Operational, and Technological Challenges at Land Ports of Entry GAO-07-248, December 6, 2006
• Immigration Benefits: Fifteenth Report Required by the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 GAO-07-168R, November 9, 2006
• Immigration Benefits: Additional Efforts Needed to Help Ensure Alien Files Are Located when Needed GAO-07-85, October 27, 2006
• Border Security: Stronger Actions Needed to Assess and Mitigate Risks of the Visa Waiver Program GAO-06-1090T, September 7, 2006
• Illegal Immigration: Border-Crossing Deaths Have Doubled Since 1995; Border Patrol's Efforts to Prevent Deaths Have Not Been Fully Evaluated. GAO-06-770, August 15, 2006
• Border Security: Continued Weaknesses in Screening Entrants into the United States GAO-06-976T, August 2, 2006
• Immigration Enforcement: Benefits and Limitations to Using Earnings Data to Identify Unauthorized Work GAO-06-814R, July 11,2006
• Border Security: Investigators Transported Radioactive Sources Across Our Nation's Borders at Two Locations GAO-06-940T, July 7, 2006 2006
• Homeland Security: Contract Management and Oversight for Visitor and Immigrant Status Program Need to Be Strengthened GAO-06-404, June 9, 2006
• Border Security: Strengthened Visa Process Would Benefit from Improvements in Staffing and Information Sharing. GAO-05-859, September 13, 2005.
• Border Security: Strengthened Visa Process Would Benefit from Additional Management Actions by State and DHS, by Jess T. Ford, Director, International Affairs and Trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform. GAO-05-994T, September 13, 2005.
• Border Security: Opportunities to Increase Coordination of Air and Marine Assets. GAO-05-543, August 12, 2005. [PDF 3.7MB]
• Border Security: Actions Needed to Strengthen Management of Department of Homeland Security's Visa Security Program. GAO-05-801, July 29, 2005.
• Border Patrol: Available Data on Interior Checkpoints Suggest Differences in Sector Performance. GAO-05-435, July 22, 2005. [PDF 3.4MB]
• Combating Alien Smuggling: The Federal Response Can Be Improved, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, House Committee on Government Reform. GAO-05-892T, July 12, 2005.
• State Department: Improvements Needed to Strengthen U.S. Passport Fraud Detection Efforts, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. GAO-05-853T, June 29, 2005.
• Combating Alien Smuggling: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Federal Response. GAO-05-305, May 27, 2005.
• State Department: Improvements Needed to Strengthen U.S. Passport Fraud Detection Efforts. GAO-05-477, May 20, 2005.
• Homeland Security: Performance of Foreign Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Continues to Improve, but Issues Remain, by Randolph C. Hite, Director of Information Technology, Architecture, and Systems Issues, and Jess T. Ford, Director of International Affairs and Trade Issues, before congressional subcommittees. GAO-05-440T, March 17, 2005.
• Homeland Security: Some Progress Made, but Many Challenges Remain on U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program. GAO-05-202, February 23, 2005. [PDF 1.8MB]
• Border Security: Streamlined Visas Mantis Program Has Lowered Burden on Foreign Science Students and Scholars, but Further Refinements Needed. GAO-05-198, February 18, 2005.
• Alien Registration: Usefulness of a Nonimmigrant Alien Annual Address Reporting Requirement Is Questionable. GAO-05-204, January 28, 2005.
• Homeland Security: Major Challenges Remain in Transforming Immigration Programs. GAO-05-81, October 14, 2004. [PDF 4.8MB]
• Border Security: State Department Rollout of Biometric Visas on Schedule, but Guidance Is Lagging. GAO-04-1001, September 9, 2004.
• Border Security: Joint, Coordinated Actions by State and DHS Needed to Guide Biometric Visas and Related Programs, by Jacquelyn L. Williams-Bridgers, managing director, international affairs and trade, and Randolph Hite, director, information technology architecture and systems, before the House Committee on Government Reform. GAO-04-1080T, September 9, 2004.
• Border Security: Consular Identification Cards Accepted Within U.S., but Consistent Federal Guidance Needed. GAO-04-881, August 24, 2004. [PDF 1.7MB]
• Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Eliminate Weaknesses in the Visa Revocation Process. GAO-04-795, July 13, 2004.
• Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Eliminate Weaknesses in the Visa Revocation Process, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform. GAO-04-899T, July 13, 2004.
• Homeland Security: Performance of Information Systems to Monitor Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors Has Improved but Issues Remain. GAO-04-690, June 18, 2004.
• Border Security: Agencies Need to Better Coordinate Their Strategies and Operations on Federal Lands. GAO-04-590, June 16, 2004, 2004. [PDF 2.6MB]
• Immigration Enforcement: Better Data and Controls Needed to Assure Consistency with the Supreme Court Decision on Long-Term Alien Detention. GAO-04-434, May 27, 2004.
• Overstay Tracking: A Key Component of Homeland Security and a Layered Defense. GAO-04-82, May 21, 2004.
• Homeland Security: Summary of Challenges Faced in Targeting Ocean Going Cargo Containers for Inspection, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (GAO-04-557T), March 31, 2004 [PDF 275 KB]
• Homeland Security: Risks Facing Key Border and Transportation Security Program Need to Be Addressed, by Randolph C. Hite, director, information technology architecture and systems issues, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, House Committee on the Judiciary. (GAO-04-569T), March 18, 2004 [PDF 388 KB]
• Border Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars, by Jess, T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the House Committee on Science. (GAO-04-443T), February 25, 2004 [PDF 233 KB]
• Border Security: Improvements Needed to Reduce Time Taken to Adjudicate Visas for Science Students and Scholars. (GAO-04-371), February 25, 2004 [PDF 1 MB]
• Immigration Application Fees: Current Fees Are Not Sufficient to Fund U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Operations. (GAO-04-309R), January 5, 2004 [PDF 338 KB]
• Posthearing Questions Related to Aviation and Port Security (GAO-04-315R) December 12, 2003 [PDF 90 Kb]
• Homeland Security: Preliminary Observations on Efforts to Target Security Inspections of Cargo Containers, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in Camden, New Jersey. (GAO-04-325T) December 16, 2003 [PDF 219 Kb]
• Homeland Security: Overstay Tracking Is a Key Component of a Layered Defense, by Nancy R. Kingsbury, managing director, applied research and methods, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, House Committee on the Judiciary, (GAO-04-170T), October 16, 2003 [PDF 879 Kb]
• Land Border Ports of Entry: Vulnerabilities and Inefficiencies in the Inspections Process (GAO-03-1084R) August 18, 2003 [PDF 82 Kb]
• Contract Management: INS Contracting Weaknesses Need Attention from the Department of Homeland Security (GAO-03-799) July 25, 2003 [PDF 436 Kb]
• Container Security: Expansion of Key Customs Programs Will Require Greater Attention to Critical Success Factors (GAO-03-770) July 25, 2003 [PDF 1.84 Mb]
• Border Security: New Policies and Increased Interagency Coordination Needed to Improve Visa Process, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Citizenship, Senate Committee on the Judiciary (GAO-03-1013T) July 15, 2003 [PDF 222 Kb]
• Border Security: New Policies and Procedures Are Needed to Fill Gaps in the Visa Revocation Process, June 18, 2003 (GAO-03-798) [PDF 1.1 Mb]
• Border Security: New Policies and Procedures Needed to Fill Gaps in the Visa Revocation Process, by Jess T. Ford, director, international affairs and trade, before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations, House Committee on Government Reform, June 18, 2003 (GAO-03-908T) [PDF 272 Kb]
• Homeland Security: Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security in Balancing Its Trade Facilitation and Border Protection Missions, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security, House Select Committee on Homeland Security, June 16, 2003 (GAO-03-902T) [PDF 124 Kb]
• Counterfeit Documents Used to Enter the United States from Certain Western Hemisphere Countries Not Detected, by Robert J. Cramer, managing director, Office of Special Investigations, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, House Committee on the Judiciary, May 13, 2003 (GAO-03-713T) [PDF 77 Kb]
• Immigration Benefits: Ninth Report Required by the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, April 21, 2003 (GAO-03-681R) [PDF 84 Kb]
• Homeland Security: Justice Department's Project to Interview Aliens After September 11, 2001, April 11, 2003 (GAO-03-459) [PDF 459 Kb]
• Homeland Security: Challenges to Implementing the Immigration Interior Enforcement Strategy, by Richard M. Stana, director, homeland security and justice, before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, House Committee on the Judiciary, April 10, 2003 (GAO-03-660T) [PDF 107 Kb]
• Weaknesses in Screening Entrants Into the United States Statement by Robert J. Cramer, Managing Director, Office of Special Investigations before the Senate Committee on Finance. (GAO-03-438T) January 30, 2003 [PDF 46 Kb}
• Technology Assessment Technology Assessment Using Biometrics for Border Security Using Biometrics for Border Security, November 2002 (GAO-03-174) [PDF 23.13 Mb]
• BORDER SECURITY: Implications of Eliminating the Visa Waiver Program, November 2002 (GAO-03-38) [PDF 886 Kb]
• IDENTITY FRAUD: Prevalence and Links to Alien Illegal Activities -- Statement of Richard M. Stana, Director, Justice Issues, (GAO-02-830T) June 25, 2002 [PDF 107 Kb]
• SECURING AMERICA’S BORDERS: INS Faces Information Technology Planning and Implementation Challenges -- Statement of Randolph C. Hite Director, Information Technology Systems Issues, October 11, 2001 (GAO-02-148T) [PDF 82 Kb]
• SECURING AMERICA’S BORDERS: INS Faces Information Technology Planning and Implementation Challenges -- Statement of Randolph C. Hite Director, Information Technology Systems Issues, October 11, 2001 (GAO-02-148T) [PDF 82 Kb]
• INS' Southwest Border Strategy: Resource and Impact Issues Remain After Seven Years, (02-AUG-01, GAO-01-842). [PDF 421 Kb]
• HOMELAND SECURITY: INS Cannot Locate Many Aliens Because It Lacks Reliable Address Information, November 2002 (GAO-03-188) [PDF 2.55 Mb]
• CUSTOMS SERVICE: Acquisition and Deployment of Radiation Detection Equipment -- Statement of (Ms.) Gary L. Jones, Director Natural Resources and Environment and Laurie E. Ekstrand, Director Tax Administration and Justice, October 17, 2002, (GAO-03-235T) [PDF 51 Kb]
• CONTAINER SECURITY: Current Efforts to Detect Nuclear Materials, New Initiatives, and Challenges -- Statement of Jay Etta Z. Hecker Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, November 18, 2002, (GAO-03-297T) [PDF 390 Kb]
• U.S. Customs Service: Compliance with the Inflation Adjustment Act, September 9, 2002, (GAO-02-1045R) [PDF 60 Kb]
• PORT SECURITY: Nation Faces Formidable Challenges in Making New Initiatives Successful -- Statement of JayEtta Z. Hecker, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, August 5, 2002, (GAO-02-993T) [PDF 163 Kb]
• Alien Smuggling: Management and Operational Improvements Needed to Address Growing Problem [GGD-00-103] 05/01/2000. [PDF Version]
• INS Budget: Overhiring and Decline in Revenues Have Created Fiscal Stress (Statement/Record, 03/24/1999, GAO/T-GGD/AIMD-99-129). [PDF Version]
• Criminal Aliens: INS' Efforts to Identify and Remove Imprisoned Aliens Continue to Need Improvement (Testimony, 02/25/99, GAO/T-GGD-99-47).
• Criminal Aliens: INS' Efforts to Remove Imprisoned Aliens Continue to Need Improvement (Letter Report, 10/16/98, GAO/GGD-99-3). [PDF Version]
• Illegal Immigration: Southwest Border Strategy Results Inconclusive; More Evaluation Needed. GGD-98-21. 70 pp. plus 7 appendices (34 pp.) December 11, 1997. [PDF Version]
• Border Control: Revised Strategy Is Showing Some Positive Results (Letter Report, GAO/GGD-95-30, 12/29/94). [PDF Version 2.88 Mb]