WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The Justice Department plans to restructure the Immigration and Naturalization Service into two main branches, though keeping it under one commissioner, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Wednesday.
In the past, INS employees have performed two functions at the same time -- law enforcement and services for immigrants and visitors.
The restructuring separates INS into law enforcement and service branches, with employees in each branch concentrating on its specialty.
The plan, which Ashcroft said removes layers between field offices and headquarters, immediately brought criticism from Congress.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., whose committee has been working on proposals for restructuring the INS, in a statement called the plan "inadequate."
"Quite simply, it does not go far enough for the rescue mission that is needed -- both on the enforcement side and the immigration services side," Sensenbrenner said. "I fear this proposal will follow its administrative restructuring predecessors in making little impact and possibly making things worse at the agency."
Earlier Ashcroft defended the plan, saying, "INS has struggled to perform two, often competing missions."
He said the restructuring would help combat terrorism, allowing the law enforcement side to find and deport suspects. "We have a new determination not to see our welcome (for visitors to the United States) abused by America's enemies."
Appearing with Ashcroft to announce the restructuring, INS Commissioner James Ziglar said the plan would "build a clear chain of command" between field offices and headquarters, and increase accountability.
Both men said the restructuring could be done administratively without any new laws from Congress.
"This process is going to take, overall, a couple of years," Ziglar said, "... But it's going to start immediately."
Each of the new INS "bureaus" will have its own executive associate commissioner.
Services field offices will be consolidated into six facilities in Burlington, Vt., Tampa or St. Petersburg, Fla., Milwaukee, Dallas, Vancouver, Wash., and Laguna Niguel in Southern California.
The new Bureau of Immigration Enforcement will have an ombudsman to investigate allegations of mistreatment at detention facilities or along the border.
The enforcement bureau will have field offices in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, El Paso, Texas, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.
