About 30,000 of the naturalization applications adjudicated in 2005 — about four percent — may have been missing so-called “A-files” documenting the interaction of aliens with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and other government entities, GAO has said.
While deemed critical in making citizenship decisions, A-files are sometimes missing during adjudications, GAO said, but noted that the actual number of decisions made without them may have been less because of underutilization of a file-tracking system.
USCIS officials said some applications might have been processed without A-files because of a lack of training on how to use the automated system, according to GAO-07-85.
Further, it said local management may not be adequately emphasizing the importance of complying with A-file tracking policies and procedures, possibly because tracking the files down slows the application process and could lead to delays.
However, missing A-files can hinder the agency’s ability to uncover immigration benefit fraud and limit DHS’ ability to take enforcement actions, though USCIS has steps in place to help mitigate the risk of adjudicating a naturalization application without an A-file, GAO said.
It said the steps include verifying the applicant’s lawful admission to the United States and conducting extra supervisory reviews to ensure that naturalization processing procedures have been followed.
DHS has reportedly agreed to require A-file users to record whether an A-file was used to process a naturalization application and to correct any identified deficiencies in file tracking compliance.
