Immigration name-check backlog trimmed

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The FBI's backlog of immigrant name checks has been whittled down by 65 percent in recent months, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ombudsman there were 95,449 pending name checks as of Aug. 12, down from 269,943 May 6. There were 61,817 cases that had been pending more than six months as of Aug. 12, compared with185,162 in May.

The FBI name checks are one of several security screening tools used by immigration services when deciding immigrant benefits.

"The significant reduction in long-pending FBI name checks will result in improved service for USCIS customers," Ombudsman Michael Dougherty said.