Pressure from Grassley helped establish an INS presence in Iowa for the first time in 1996. Since then, he's worked to expand the number of positions for both law enforcement and casework. "While we've made progress in creating these positions, the INS has left us in an inexcusable situation by letting many of the positions remain vacant," Grassley said today.
Grassley spelled out the shortcomings in a letter to the INS Commissioner. A copy of that letter follows here.
October 7, 2002
The Honorable James Ziglar
Commissioner
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 I Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20536
Dear Commissioner Ziglar:
Before a congressional hearing on July 12, 2002, Attorney General Ashcroft stated that our country is "at war with a terrorist network operating within our borders." With the arrests last week, we are learning that more individuals currently in the United States are connected to terrorist groups around the world. I commend the Department of Justice as they continue to investigate cells beyond Detroit, Buffalo, and Portland.
However, I continue to be concerned that the United States has been a Holiday Inn for terrorism sleeping cells. I believe that the enforcement of our immigration laws beyond the borders will continue to play a pivotal role in finding and rooting out terrorists that have slipped through the cracks and successfully maneuvered the loopholes in our system.
For years, I have sought to place more INS resources in Iowa. As you know, current law states that the Attorney General shall allocate to each State not fewer than ten full-time active duty agents to carry out the functions of the Service. While I appreciate that your agency has allotted more personnel positions for Iowa, I am frustrated that many of those positions are vacant. These positions may exist in theory, but by not filling them, the agency is not ensuring the effective enforcement of our laws.
Since September 11, the Omaha INS District was supposed to receive one Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) officer. I am appalled to hear that not one JTTF officer resides in the Omaha district, and that another Des Moines enforcement officer is called away from his job description duties and has been forced to spend his valuable time doing JTTF work.
In the INS office in Des Moines, at least nine positions are allotted for enforcement and detention officers. At present, two special agents are doing the work of 7 people. Of those two agents, one of them is doing the work of a JJTF officer. In the past few months, two enforcement officers have transferred out of Des Moines to other locations, and two detention officers will be transferred to Chicago in the upcoming months.
What's more, the INS has not yet positively responded to my request for more INS presence in the Quad Cities. I also understand that the INS office in Sioux City has two slots for detention officers, but have been without both persons for approximately two or three months.
I realize that there is a lot of work for your INS officers throughout the country, and understand that your agency is attempting to hire many more employees. Nevertheless, I am requesting your immediate attention to filling the vacant positions in Iowa so that officers can enforce our immigration laws. I am also seeking a clear answer as to why many officers are choosing to be transferred to other offices. Your attention to these issues are appreciated.
I look forward to a response from your office by the 7th of November. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Nuebel of my staff at 202/224-3744.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
cc: Attorney General John Ashcroft