NCJ Number
102213
Date Published
1986
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Following a discussion of the magnitude of the criminal alien population, the activities of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in investigating and apprehending deportable criminal aliens in the New York City area are described.
Abstract
While there are insufficient data available to fully estimate the extent of the problem, during a 15-month period the extent of the problem, during a 15-month period ending September 1985, 12,306 aliens were arrested on felony charges and 11,109 were arrested on misdemeanors. About 75 percent of INS time in the New York City area involves incarcerated aliens. Less effort is made to determine the deportability of those not in prison. As about 87 percent of aliens arrested for felonies are not incarcerated, there may be a sizable deportable criminal alien population not focused on by the INS. A number of policy and resource considerations have limited investigation of criminal aliens. These include (1) INS investigative priorities which fail to define objectives for investigation, (2) a case management system that encourages efforts most likely to be successful, (3) a backlogged deportation process and overburdened detention facilities, and (4) the number of investigators.