To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. FRONT LINES Tackling the name check challenge: A USCIS-FBI partnership BY GREGORY SMITH THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPT. 11, 2001, EXPOSED VULNERABILITIES REGARDING HOW OUR NATION SCREENS AND PROCESSES LAWFUL IMMIGRANTS. With the creation of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, changes were made to improve the systems and procedures involved in background checks of individuals seeking residence and US citizenship. Part of this change included a more thorough search of national security and law enforcement information provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name check process. More intense scrutiny required additional time and an increase in interagency efforts to keep up with a continually expanding caseload. During the next three years, application backlogs grew larger. As a result, individuals faced longer wait times before clearing the FBI name check process and qualifying for immigration benefits. The situation became untenable during 2007, following an unprecedented surge in applications for both citizenship and adjustment of status. within 90 days. We will achieve and sustain these processing time goals no later than June 2009. The revised NNCP fee, which covers the full cost of service, will allow NNCP to maintain staff levels, continuing this shortest-ever processing time. It will also allow USCIS to meet agency goals of reducing adjudication times without compromising security. During the past 15 months, USCIS has seen the total number of requests pending at the NNCP decline from a high of HE SUCCESSES ACHIEVED ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE ACHIEVEMENTS 350,000 in November 2007 to fewer than 3,260 in midPOSSIBLE WHEN INTERAGENCY RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED TOWARD January 2009. During August 2007, more than 32,000 COMMON, CLEARLY DEFINED requests were pending GOALS. longer than 33 months, but as of mid-January 2009, only tions. A rigorous quality assurance program 17 name check requests were pending was established to ensure sensitive informalonger than three months. The backlog, tion wasn’t missed through the use of the defined as requests pending longer than six more focused search criteria. Additional months, has effectively been eliminated. training was also provided to new hires at This dramatic progress has meant that the NNCP concerning the types of informa- USCIS could complete adjudication of tion USCIS adjudicators require for their record numbers of naturalization cases in decisions. 2008. A core ingredient of this success story is Results the close partnership that USCIS and the Thanks to the actions taken by USCIS and FBI have fostered through frequent and the FBI, both collectively and independ- open communications between our agenently, we’ve seen extraordinary gains. We’ve cies’ leaders. Both agencies have focused met every goal set forth in the NNCP busion the most effective solutions to the ness plan. In November 2008, the NNCP immense challenges faced and have met its milestone target of processing all demonstrated mutual respect and support name checks pending for more than one for the other’s requirements and areas of year. Just two months ago, we completed all expertise. The successes achieved are a tesrequests pending more than six months. tament to the achievements possible when Ultimately, our goal is to complete 98 interagency resources are focused toward percent of all name checks within 30 days common, clearly defined goals. HST of submission. USCIS and the FBI intend to GREGORY SMITH is the associate director for US Citizenresolve the remaining 2 percent, which repship and Immigration Services, National Security and Records Verification Directorate. resent the most difficult name checks, million to the NNCP during FY 2007 and FY 2008 to support backlog elimination efforts. With that funding, the NNCP increased eightfold the number of employees working USCIS name check requests. In addition to new funding, USCIS and the FBI streamlined the name check criteria by focusing on those files most likely to yield national security and public safety information pertinent to USCIS adjudica- T The backlog The FBI Name Check backlog is a sensitive issue with national security implications. The resolution of these pending cases became a USCIS and FBI priority. By the summer of 2007, it became clear to USCIS and FBI leadership that a bolder course of action was needed to address the rapidly growing backlog of pending requests while also building the capacity of the FBI’s National Name Check Program (NNCP). USCIS received appropriated funds from Congress to begin hiring additional personnel at the FBI to address the name check backlog. The FBI also implemented a new fee structure that provided the revenue to sustain a larger NNCP staff and improve its business processes. With the support of the Congress, USCIS allocated a total of $29.5 Register online today for exclusive online content and eNewsletters HSToday Magazine | April 2009 7