
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 8USC1574]

 
                     TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
 
           CHAPTER 13--IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
 
   SUBCHAPTER II--IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
 
Sec. 1574. Reports to Congress


(a) Backlog elimination plan

                         (1) Report required

        Not later than 90 days after October 17, 2000, the Attorney 
    General shall submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary and 
    Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
    concerning--
            (A) the backlogs in immigration benefit applications in 
        existence as of October 17, 2000; and
            (B) the Attorney General's plan for eliminating such 
        backlogs.

                         (2) Report elements

        The report shall include--
            (A) an assessment of the data systems used in adjudicating 
        and reporting on the status of immigration benefit applications, 
        including--
                (i) a description of the adequacy of existing computer 
            hardware, computer software, and other mechanisms to comply 
            with the adjudications and reporting requirements of this 
            subchapter; and
                (ii) a plan for implementing improvements to existing 
            data systems to accomplish the purpose of this subchapter, 
            as described in section 1571(a) of this title;

            (B) a description of the quality controls to be put into 
        force to ensure timely, fair, accurate, and complete processing 
        and adjudication of such applications;
            (C) the elements specified in subsection (b)(2) of this 
        section;
            (D) an estimate of the amount of appropriated funds that 
        would be necessary in order to eliminate the backlogs in each 
        category of immigration benefit applications described in 
        subsection (b)(2) of this section; and
            (E) a detailed plan on how the Attorney General will use any 
        funds in the Immigration Services and Infrastructure 
        Improvements Account to comply with the purposes of this 
        subchapter.

(b) Annual reports

                           (1) In general

        Beginning 90 days after the end of the first fiscal year for 
    which any appropriation authorized by section 1573(b) of this title 
    is made, and 90 days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter, 
    the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Committees on the 
    Judiciary and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
    Representatives concerning the status of--
            (A) the Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements 
        Account including any unobligated balances of appropriations in 
        the Account; and
            (B) the Attorney General's efforts to eliminate backlogs in 
        any immigration benefit application described in paragraph (2).

                         (2) Report elements

        The report shall include--
            (A) State-by-State data on--
                (i) the number of naturalization cases adjudicated in 
            each quarter of each fiscal year;
                (ii) the average processing time for naturalization 
            applications;
                (iii) the number of naturalization applications pending 
            for up to 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 
            months, and 48 months or more;
                (iv) estimated processing times adjudicating newly 
            submitted naturalization applications;
                (v) an analysis of the appropriate processing times for 
            naturalization applications; and
                (vi) the additional resources and process changes needed 
            to eliminate the backlog for naturalization adjudications;

            (B) the status of applications or, where applicable, 
        petitions described in subparagraph (C), by Immigration and 
        Naturalization Service district, including--
                (i) the number of cases adjudicated in each quarter of 
            each fiscal year;
                (ii) the average processing time for such applications 
            or petitions;
                (iii) the number of applications or petitions pending 
            for up to 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 
            months, and 48 months or more;
                (iv) the estimated processing times adjudicating newly 
            submitted applications or petitions;
                (v) an analysis of the appropriate processing times for 
            applications or petitions; and
                (vi) a description of the additional resources and 
            process changes needed to eliminate the backlog for such 
            processing and adjudications; and

            (C) a status report on--
                (i) applications for adjustments of status to that of an 
            alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
                (ii) petitions for nonimmigrant visas under section 1184 
            of this title;
                (iii) petitions filed under section 1154 of this title 
            to classify aliens as immediate relatives or preference 
            immigrants under section 1153 of this title;
                (iv) applications for asylum under section 1158 of this 
            title;
                (v) registrations for Temporary Protected Status under 
            section 1254a of this title; and
                (vi) a description of the additional resources and 
            process changes needed to eliminate the backlog for such 
            processing and adjudications.

                  (3) Absence of appropriated funds

        In the event that no funds are appropriated subject to section 
    1573(b) of this title in the fiscal year in which this Act is 
    enacted, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress not 
    later than 90 days after the end of such fiscal year, and each 
    fiscal year thereafter, containing the elements described in 
    paragraph (2).

(Pub. L. 106-313, title II, Sec. 205, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1263.)

                       References in Text

    The fiscal year in which this Act is enacted, referred to in subsec. 
(b)(3), is the fiscal year in which Pub. L. 106-313, which was approved 
Oct. 17, 2000, was enacted.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1573 of this title.
