Backlog in Immigrant Benefits Rose 59 Percent in Past Three Years, GAO Say

[pinto]

match the actions with the word of B*shco

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By Suzanne Gamboa Associated Press Writer
Published: Jan 8, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - The backlog of immigrants awaiting decisions on applications for benefits continues to grow rapidly even though lawmakers approved more money to address the problem, according to a congressional investigation released Thursday.

There were 6.2 million applications pending at the end of September, a 59 percent increase from the 3.9 million awaiting action two years earlier, according to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress. The applications are for legal immigrants wanting to become citizens, permanent residents or seeking other benefits.

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Bush has pledged to cut the application processing times to an average of six months or less. But Customs and Immigration Services hasn't figured out what needs to be done to achieve that, the GAO report said. Processing now can take several years or a few months, depending on the type of benefit sought and where the application is being handled.

compassionate neglect in action

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