In both the Legalization and Special Agricultural Worker programs, INS released preliminary draft regulations to the general public for comment and suggestions prior to final publication in the Federal Register. The input received from interested persons and organizations as well as federal agencies was of great benefit. Similar approaches were followed with forms and written materials.

EMPLOYER SANCTIONS

The Employer Sanctions program is now fully implemented with a balanced, three-part strategy. We attained the goal of one million employer contacts during the first year of the program, establishing a solid foundation for employer compliance. We expect to complete an additional million contacts by June of this year. We established the Office of Employer and Labor Relations (ELR), to demonstrate that compliance with IRCA can be accomplished without undue difficulty, and to assure employers that there are abundant sources of legally authorized workers. Of the 17,684 employers investigated or inspected by the Service since the program began, 67 percent have been found in compliance with the

law.

The other elements of the strategy are investigations based upon leads and a compliance inspection based upon a neutral selection process, or General Administrative Plan (GAP). The first Notice of Intent to Fine was served in October 1987. The Service

has issued over 1,700 Notices of Intent to Fine for violations of the law and has yet to lose a case. As an example, on November 17, 1988, an adverse decision was rendered by an administrative law judge in a Service sanctions case. The Service appealed the decision to the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (CAHC) at the Department, and on December 15, 1988, the decision was vacated.

As an aid to employers, the Service developed and implemented the Legally Authorized Workers (LAW) Program. Through the LAW Program, Service officers distribute lists containing sources of workers in all educational contacts with employers. In addition, ELR has initiated several pilot projects through its regional and district offices for the LAW program. The purpose of these projects is to illustrate the LAW concept and move it from theory into practical application.

CRIMINAL ALIENS

The INS Investigations program has been expanded in order to increase operations focused on removing criminal aliens from the Nation. There is no question that these individuals cause considerable harm and must be apprehended, detained and removed without delay.

In New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, pilot projects are fully operational and are improving INS' responses to referrals by local law enforcement authorities regarding arrested

aliens charged with drug-related violations, as well as improving access to INS' automated information systems for checking arrested aliens' immigration status.

The Service has assumed an important role in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement (OCDE) program. One hundred INS Special Agent positions are committed at various times to this important nationwide effort. They are getting results. In 1988, our agents apprehended 662 criminal aliens involved in illegal drug activities which were investigated under OCDE initiatives. OCDE related seizures and forfeitures in which INS played a role with other task force agencies included: $9.7 million in currency, 184 vehicles, 714 weapons, 1,996 kilograms of cocaine, 2,589 vials of "crack", 145 pounds of heroin, 65,247 pounds of marijuana, and 50 pounds of amphetamines. The value of these drugs is estimated to be $119.5

million.

The National Alien Criminal Apprehension Program (ACAP) was fully implemented during 1988. Agents were able to double apprehensions over 1987 with over 22,000 criminal alien cases in 1988 (e.g. our Los Angeles District Office deported 2,058 incarcerated criminal aliens during the first 6 months of this fiscal year alone). This level of activity is expected to continue and grow in the future as a result of increased cooperation between the Service and local law enforcement agencies. We feel that taking vigorous action against criminal aliens by apprehending, detaining and removing them from the country expeditiously, will

be of considerable benefit to the nation and will be pursued as an agency priority.

DRUG ENFORCEMENT

INS has continued to play a substantial role in the battle to keep drugs from surreptitiously entering the United States. Drug interdiction operations in which the Border Patrol participated along with other law enforcement agencies have been a clear success, accounting for sixty percent of the drugs seized on the Southern Border.

In 1988, drug seizures Nationwide by Border Patrol personnel were significantly up over 1987 levels. Agents made 3,257 seizures valued at over $700.5 million. Marijuana (160.7 tons) and cocaine (5.5 tons) again were the two most frequently intercepted drugs. The cocaine seized was ten times the amount seized just three years earlier. In the first five months of FY 1989 the Border Patrol in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies has nearly doubled the number of seizures for both cocaine and marijuana over last year's record level.

During 1988, we continued to make excellent use of dogs in conjunction with Border Patrol traffic checkpoint operations. The presence of canine units is a deterrent to alien smugglers and drug smugglers. We now have 69 units in continued operation. Expansion of the canine program will provide increased strength in efforts to interdict aliens and drug shipments. In addition,

Our

9

Border Patrol agents with dogs are also contacting large numbers of school children as part of INS drug education efforts.

Through

this relatively modest program, over 600,000 students have received anti-drug information by using the dogs to gain the children's interest and promote demand reduction.

INS dogs successfully assisted

in rescue efforts in

Brownsville, Texas, after the collapse of a three-story department store which trapped a number of people in the wreckage. Six lives were saved as a result of our canine units. In a number of other the lives of aliens locked in railroad boxcars have been saved due to the efforts of these units.

cases,

SYSTEMATIC ALIEN VERIFICATION FOR ENTITLEMENTS (SAVE) PROGRAM

We have continued to make progress with the implementation of the SAVE program, a national effort to prevent illegal or ineligible aliens from receiving benefits through federally funded entitlement programs, such as aid to families with dependent children, medicaid, unemployment compensation, food stamps, and certain housing and educational assistance programs.

Full

implementation of the SAVE program in all entitlement programs has the potential for saving from $2-3 billion in improper payments. This is significant at a time when efforts to control government spending are receiving greater emphasis.