Planet-Love.com Searchable Archives

...another one.

If anyone sent in any paperwork to the INS’s California Service Center in the past 30 days, please read!

I guess that’s one way to catch up on your paperwork backlog - shred it. I found it interesting that the INS contracts out for staffing at the 4 service centers. And all this time we have been blaming the INS employees...

----------
INS reviewing allegations of improper shredding

ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 13, 2002

LOS ANGELES – All paper shredding at the Immigration and Naturalization Service's massive Orange County processing center has been suspended as officials investigate allegations that a database contractor may have improperly shredded documents.

The Laguna Niguel service center, one of four such INS facilities nationwide, is the clearinghouse for applicants from California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii. The center receives an average of 60,000 pieces of mail each week, everything from visa extensions to applications for asylum.

Nonessential paperwork is routinely sent to the shredder, but last month two agency employees relayed suspicions of improper shredding, leading to an investigation by the INS Office of Internal Audit, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

No definitive proof of illegal destruction of government property has been discovered, and officials are unaware of a motive, said INS spokeswoman Virginia Kice. It's also not known how many documents may have been affected.

"We are taking this matter very, very seriously," Kice said. "The kind of work that's being done at this service center certainly affects tens of thousands of people."

Telephone inquiry services are being expanded to handle calls from people who fear that documents may have been lost, Kice said. Some applicants may be asked to send new copies of documents. Immigration advocates and lawyers will be consulted to help reconstruct missing files.

The INS inquiry is focusing on the activities of Texas-based Datatrac Information Services, Kice said. Datatrac and a second company, SEI Technology Inc., based in Virginia, are both subcontractors to a third firm, JHM Research & Development of Maryland. The INS hired JHM last year to staff the nation's four regional immigration service centers.

John Macklin, president of JHM, declined to comment about the investigation.

The INS will accept telephone inquiries related to the investigation starting today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Laguna Niguel office, (949) 831-8427. Petitioners who have not received a receipt from the INS for applications sent to the service center within the past 30 days can call and check.
----------

Ray

... in response to INS Blows..., posted by Ray on May 14, 2002

A coworker who married a gal from Columbia is putting off filing for her removal of conditional status until this mess at the Laguna Niguel center clears up.
Imagine all the people now stuck in limbo because their applicaitons are now so much hamster cage liner?

... in response to Sad, but not shocking, posted by Bob S on May 15, 2002

ROFL! That was a good one...

What do you want to bet that they took the checks out and cashed them before they shredded the rest of the package?

Ray

... in response to INS Blows..., posted by Ray on May 14, 2002

Hey Ray,

What do you bet the subcontractors for INS were hiring non-English speaking illegal aliens...nice rumor anyway. ;o))

Dave H.

... in response to Me no speaky Ingles..., posted by Dave H on May 14, 2002

I worked with the Cuban boat lift of 1980 for two years. The INS (NOT a subcontractor) hired an illegal Mexican as an interpreter while I was there. The guy saw it on the news and said "bet they're paying good" so he road a bus from Montery to the border, crossed the river and then hitchhiked to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas (just outside Fort Smith) and they "local hired" him on the spot. I don't know where he learned, but his English was very good and he told them he was from somewhere in south Texas and they believed him. They did do a background check, but it took about 3 or 4 months and they needed to hire interperters like NOW. They never did figure out that he was illegal, since their background check only looked to see if her had a criminal record in the US, not to see if he was here legaly. For ID he used a forged driver license that he bought in Texas.

... in response to hiring illegals, posted by Michael B on May 15, 2002

Hi Michael,

...but, doesn't surprise me a bit! Sounds like he spoke much better English than anyone at Miami INS.

In S. FL, people can even buy their fake driver's licenses at the state driver license offices (numerous arrests and over the years). My apologies for accusing Kmart. Here is a sample of the fake license test. http://seacow.www7.50megs.com/test.html

Dave H.

... in response to Amazing..., posted by Dave H on May 15, 2002

I  work  with  an illegal guy  who  is  19.  he  showed  them  the  papers they  wanted  to see  and  has  been  here  over  a year.  At  first  I was  shocked  a  little  but  now  I  realize  he  is providing  a  service  and  learning  a  trade  in  a  market  where  labor  is  tight.

What  scares  me  the  most  is  that  he  is learning  his English  from  MTV,  songs on the Radio, and South Park.  Of  course  they  learn  the  bad  words  first  and  he  says  Whats  up  fool!   or  Shut  up  nig---   etc.  Just  yesterday  he  asked  me  what  FORSAKEN  means  I  told  him  but  I  also  explained  it  is  not  commonly  used  English.  It  is  jst  some  Jibberish  that  some  Rock  band threw  together  to  make  their  song work  and  be  impressive.

Oh  well he  at  least  is  somewhat  willing  to  work    which  is  more  than  I  can  say  for  many of  his  American Peers his age.

Windmill Boy

... in response to INS Blows..., posted by Ray on May 14, 2002

Sally

... in response to INS Blows..., posted by Ray on May 14, 2002

the whole world would be better off.