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The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress, and was published on Apr 25, 2002.
Barbara Jordan Immigration Reform and Accountability Act of 2002 - Abolishes the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Establishes in the Department of Justice the Office of the Associate Attorney General for Immigration Affairs (AAGIA), headed by an Associate Attorney General for Immigration Affairs, who shall be responsible for: (1) supervising the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Director of the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement; (2) coordinating national immigration policy; and (3) allocating and coordinating such Bureaus' resources through the Office of Shared Services.(Sec. 3) Establishes within the Office the positions of: (1) Policy Advisor; (2) General Counsel; (3) Chief Financial Officer; and (4) Director of Shared Services.Establishes within the Office: (1) the Office of the Ombudsman; (2) the Office of Professional Responsibility and Quality Review; and (3) the Office of Children's Affairs, which shall implement law and policy for unaccompanied alien children who come into the custody of the Department of Justice, including placement and foster care issues and development of a legal representation plan.Transfers from INS to the Office of Children's Affairs functions relating to unaccompanied alien children.Transfers from the Assistant Attorney, Civil Division, to the Associate Attorney General for Immigration affairs all functions performed by the Office of Immigration Litigation, and all related personnel, infrastructure, and funding.(Sec. 4) Establishes in the Department of Justice the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), to be headed by the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.Requires the Director to: (1) designate an official to administer student visa programs and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System through September 30, 2004 (authorizes administrative continuance after such date); and (2) provide appropriate student-related information to the Director of the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement.Requires the Director to implement a managerial rotation program under which supervisory and managerial personnel shall, as a condition of further promotion, work in field offices or service centers and gain multi-function experience.Authorizes the Director to implement immigration backlog pilot initiatives.Transfers all INS and service center adjudication functions and personnel to the BCIS, including functions and personnel related to visa and naturalization petitions, and asylum and refugee applications.Establishes in the BCIS: (1) the Office of Policy and Strategy, which shall establish and coordinate national immigration policies; (2) the position of Chief Budget Officer; (3) the Office of Congressional, Intergovernmental, and Public Affairs; and (4) the Office of Citizenship, which shall be responsible for promoting citizenship and naturalization training.Authorizes the establishment in the BCIS of the position of Legal Advisor.Sets forth requirements for sectors, field offices, and service centers.(Sec. 5) Sets forth the functions of the Office of the Ombudsman, including: (1) individual and employer problem resolution with the BCIS; (2) problem area identification, and legislative and administrative corrective proposals; and (3) local Ombudsman office monitoring.(Sec. 6) Establishes in the Department of Justice the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement (BIE), to be headed by the Director of the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement.Requires the Director to implement a managerial rotation program under which supervisory and managerial personnel shall, as a condition of further promotion, work in field offices or service centers and gain multi-function experience.Transfers to the BIE all INS functions respecting: (1) the Border Patrol; (2) the detention and removal program; (3) the intelligence program; (4) the investigations program; and (5) the inspections program.Establishes in the BIE: (1) the Office of Policy and Strategy to establish and coordinate national immigration enforcement policies; (2) the position of Chief Budget Officer; and (3) the Office of Congressional, Intergovernmental, and Public Affairs.Authorizes the establishment in the BIE of the position of Legal Advisor.Sets forth requirements for sectors, field offices, and Border Patrol sectors.(Sec. 7) Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to establish within the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department of Justice the Office of Immigration Statistics, to be headed by a Director. States that the Office shall: (1) maintain all immigration statistical information from the Office of the AAGIA, the BIE, the BCIS, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review; and (2) establish standards for statistical reliability.Transfers to the Office functions of the Statistics Branch of the Office of Policy Planning of INS.(Sec. 8) States that: (1) the Attorney General or his delegate may perform any function for which this Act vests responsibility in an official other than the Attorney General; and (2) nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the powers, authorities, or duties of the Secretary of State and special agents of the Department of State and the Foreign Service under the State Department Basic Authorities Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, or any other Act, to investigate illegal passport or visa issuance or use.(Sec. 9) Sets forth savings provisions respecting: (1) legal documents; (2) proceedings; (3) suits and continuance of suits; (4) nonabatement of actions; and (5) administrative procedure and judicial review.(Sec. 10) Sets forth requirements for the transfer of Department of Justice personnel and related matters (including database integration) in conjunction with the transfer of functions under this Act.(Sec. 11) Directs the Attorney General, prior to obligating any resources for voluntary separation incentives (authorized by this Act), to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategic restructuring plan. States that an individual who within five years of such separation accepts compensated Federal employment shall be required to repay the entire incentive amount.(Sec. 12) Authorizes the Attorney General, during a period ending not later than five years after enactment of this Act, to conduct an employee disciplinary demonstration project.(Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations to effect the abolition of INS and to establish the replacement entities created under this Act. Establishes in the Treasury the Immigration Reorganization Transition Account. Sets forth related funding and fee provisions. Authorizes appropriations for refugee and asylum adjudications.Expresses the sense of Congress that the missions of the Office of the AAGIA, the BCIS, and the BIE are equally important, and should be adequately funded to ensure they operate at financial levels not below those in existence prior to the enactment this Act.Amends the Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Act of 2000 to extend the immigration application backlog elimination date to one year after enactment of this Act.(Sec. 14) Directs the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) division and transfer of funds and personnel among the Office of the AAGIA, the BCIS, and the BIE; (2) improvement of immigration services; (3) BIE enforcement plans; (4) whether the Director of Shared Services is properly and efficiently servicing the BCIS and the BIE; (5) closure of permanent interior checkpoints and fund reallocation for border and point of entry enforcement; and (6) necessary law and funding revisions to ensure timely response to emergent or unforeseen immigration needs.Directs the Attorney General to submit reorganization implementation plans semi-annually through FY 2005, which shall include establishment of separate BCIS and BIE accounts and financial management systems.Directs the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) transfer of functions under this Act; and (2) resultant improvements in operations, management, and financial and information administration.(Sec. 15) Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish an Internet-based immigration filings tracking system, and a related Technology Advisory Committee; and (2) conduct a feasibility study of online immigration filing, including a review of related INS computerization and technology.(Sec. 16) Defines "function" and "office" for purposes of this Act.(Sec. 17) States that: (1) the abolishment of INS, the establishment of the Office of the AAGIA, the BCIS, and the BIE, appointment of Directors, and the transfer of functions shall take effect one year after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) the Associate Attorney General for Immigration Affairs is authorized to perform specified functions during an 18-month transition period.
