§1574 Reports to Congress

Summary

The Attorney General must send Congress a report within 90 days after October 17, 2000, that lists the immigration application backlogs that existed on that date and gives a plan to clear them. The report must check the computer and data systems used to handle applications and say how to improve them. It must describe quality checks to make processing fair, accurate, and timely, include the annual reporting items below, estimate how much money is needed to clear each type of backlog, and explain how any money in the Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Account will be spent. Starting 90 days after the end of the first fiscal year that receives money under section 1573(b), and 90 days after the end of each fiscal year after that, the Attorney General must send an annual report on the Account and on efforts to clear backlogs. The report must give state-by-state naturalization data (quarterly case counts, average processing time, numbers pending at up to 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48+ months, estimated time for new cases, what the proper processing time should be, and what extra resources or process changes are needed). It must give similar district-level data for other immigration applications and petitions, and must report on specific types including adjustment to permanent residence, nonimmigrant visa petitions, family/immigrant classification petitions, asylum, and Temporary Protected Status, plus the resources and changes needed to clear those backlogs. If no funds are provided under section 1573(b) in the fiscal year the Act is enacted, the Attorney General still must send the annual report no later than 90 days after that fiscal year ends and each year after.