Nadler Attempts to Reduce Backlog of Security Checks for Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives last night failed to pass an amendment offered by Congressman Jerrold Nadler to reduce the backlog of security checks for immigrants seeking legal status.  The amendment, offered to the Science, State, Justice & Commerce Appropriations Act, would have provided $40 million for the FBI’s National Name Check Program (NNCP), which conducts security background checks on names it receives from multiple federal agencies. 

“We ought to process these checks efficiently; the enormous backlog of background check requests does an injustice to immigrants—and poses a national security threat at the same time,” Congressman Nadler said.  “Law-abiding immigrants should not have to wait years for their approval, and neither should would-be terrorists be allowed years of sanctuary in our country.”

Since the attacks of September 11th, the program has accumulated a significant backlog.  In fiscal year 2006 alone, the National Name Check Program received 3,346,435 requests for background checks. 

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) is the largest source of NNCP requests because of the number of immigrants applying for asylum, legal permanent residency, and citizenship.  The backlog has resulted in a major delay in the processing of immigration applications. 

The Nadler amendment would have helped the FBI eliminate the backlog and process new requests more quickly.  To offset this increase, $40 million would have been cut from the Department of Justice Legal Activities, Salaries and Expenses account.  The amendment failed on a vote of 176-243.

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