In order to ensure that findings from the assessments are acted upon, GAO recommended that the director of USCIS prepare a roadmap for each of the four outstanding benefit fraud and compliance assessments.
The roadmap should further delineate timetables for deciding what actions to take, which USCIS organizational units will be responsible for implementing those actions, and a timetable for implementing agreed-upon actions, as well as modify adjudication procedures for family- and employment-based petitions to include requirements on what evidence should be verified, GAO said.
In comments on GAO’s testimony, DHS and USCIS agreed with the recommendations. USCIS further stated that it would modify adjudication guidance and procedures when the results of an assessment indicates the need to do so.
