Washington, D.C. - Today Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted to abolish the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) agency in an effort to make the agency that staffs the border more efficient and accountable.  In its replacement, two new bureaus would be created; one to enforce immigration laws and the other to deal with immigration and citizenship services.

“Everyone is in agreement that the INS has problems and needs reform,” said Larsen.  “While the bill that passed today isn’t perfect, the U.S. House of Representatives came closer to resolving some of those issues.”

“The INS has tried to change its operations nine times since 1979,” Larsen explained.  “I don’t need to see a tenth attempt to know that Congress needed to step in.”

The bill that the House passed today would abolish INS and replaces it with the Agency for Immigration Affairs.  The new agency would have two bureaus: The Bureau of Immigration Services and Adjudications, which would deal with immigration services, and the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement, which would enforce immigration laws much like the current role of border patrol agents, for example. 

While the bill is a step in the right direction, there are concerns with how the two bureaus would work.  For instance, the Associate Attorney General for Immigration Affairs would head the new agency.  This position does not carry the same weight and authority as that of the present day position of the INS Commissioner.

“The head of the new agency must be able to strengthen security along the border and keep people and commerce moving.  It’s a tough job; It’s going to take someone high enough on the bureaucratic ladder to be able to do it,” said Larsen.

These problems will be addressed in the Senate, where a similar bipartisan bill is currently being drafted.  The Senate bill would be very similar to the House bill but would empower the head of the new agency with more authority.

The bill in the House would also establish a Technology Advisory Committee to provide the new bureaus with the tools and technology necessary to carry out their duties.

Larsen represents Washington’s Second Congressional District, which includes Western Washington’s northern border.  Larsen is an active member of the bipartisan Northern Border Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The INS reform bill, H.R. 3231, passed 405 to 9.