President’s FY 2003 Budget Request for INS

The budget request for the INS from the President for Y 2003 is for $6.3 billion. The budget request covers adding an additional 2,200 new positions to the INS. In addition, the budget includes a $1.2 billion targeted for measures to improve homeland security and combating terrorism.

As part of improving homeland security, the budget request outlines a new Border Security Initiative which would include implementing a new entry-exit system which would use advanced technology and provide total coverage to track the arrival and departure of non-U.S. citizens and allow the INS to identify aliens who overstay their visas. The budget allocates $380 million to the development of this new system In addition, in order to monitor the border’s isolated areas more closely, the budget allocates money for using force-multiplying equipment, such as remotely operated infrared cameras. Finally, the initiative calls for integration of information systems that currently operate separately in order to ensure timely and accurate enforcement data.

In terms of Border Patrol operations, the budget calls for $711.7 million for border enforcement and the addition of 1,790 positions to Border Patrol operations, including adding an additional 570 Border Patrol Agents. Of these new Border Patrol positions, 285 would be stationed at the Northern Border. The budget also allocates money for the hiring of an additional 1,160 new immigration inspectors.

For Interior Enforcement, the budgets allocates $19.7 million and adds 137 new positions in order to increase cooperation with other Federal agencies to work against possible terrorist cells in the U.S. More funds are directed at improving INS intelligence services and additional positions. Finally, the INS is working on a training program to raise awareness and help with the identification of women and children who are victims of organizations that violate the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.

In the area of detention and removals the budget allocates $50.5 million to improve facilities and to expand alternatives to detention operations. Efforts will be focused on continuing to identify cost-effective methods of detaining select individuals.

For petition processing, the INS is working to achieve a six-month processing time for all immigration benefit petitions and the budget allocates $100 million towards eliminating processing backlogs. Overall, the budget has $1.5 billion for Immigration services to allow the INS to process over 9.4 million applications and petitions with a goal to increase productivity 34% over FY 2001.

In terms of support and administration services, the budge allocates $143.5 million and adds 286 new positions to assist INS enforcement and service operations. This covers upgrades in management information systems, sufficient support staff, improving information technology, providing better physical security and legal support.

Finally, the budget includes millions of dollars to continue with the emergency counter-terrorism supplemental activities started in FY 2002.

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