Please Note: The content you will see is the actual work product of the QHSR study groups and participants, it is not final, vetted DHS policy.

Immigration Vision, Goals, Objectives and Outcomes

Vision 1: A secure, unified, fair, adaptive, and responsive immigration system that protects the public, enriches our society, and advances economic growth.

Vision 2: A secure, unified, adaptive, and responsive immigration system that protects the public, enriches our society, and advances economic growth.

Goal 1:  Effectively administer our immigration laws and efficiently make decisions with fairness and integrity.

Objective 1.1: (Create a User-friendly System) Establish and maintain an interactive, user-oriented system that informs the public about procedures and benefits, accepts and tracks applications, and responds to inquiries.

• Outcome 1.1.1: All appropriate information regarding immigration benefits is available to external users through multiple avenues, to include an interactive web-based portal.
• Outcome 1.1.2: Users are able to submit their applications and track status through multiple means, including online.
• Outcome 1.1.3: Information, instructions, and eligibility requirements are provided clearly, in multiple languages.

Objective 1.2: (Make Good, Prompt Decisions) Ensure fair, consistent, prompt, and accurate immigration decisions.

• Outcome 1.2.1: Active individual case files are available electronically to authorized users in real-time.
• Outcome 1.2.2: Gaps and inconsistencies in policies and procedures are systematically identified and addressed to ensure fair and prompt decision making.
• Outcome 1.2.3: Policy and guidance from headquarters are clearly communicated and available for reference to the field, to achieve unified interpretation of the policy or guidance.
• Outcome 1.2.4: Policy implementation is evaluated to ensure compliance and consistency in the field.
• Outcome 1.2.5: Employees receive timely comprehensive basic training and specialized training.

Objective 1.3: (Ensure Real-time, Cross-agency Information Sharing) Provide real-time and complete immigration, enforcement, and threat information to decision makers in a manner that respects civil liberties and privacy.

• Outcome 1.3.1: Screening is conducted using all real-time threat and criminal information.
• Outcome 1.3.2: Adjudicative decisions (eligibility, admissibility, removability) are made based on all relevant, real-time information available to the United States government, including biometrics.
• Outcome 1.3.3: Information sharing complies with civil liberties and privacy policies and laws.

Objective 1.4: (Develop a Department-wide, Integrated Policy and Operational Planning Capability) Develop a department-wide, integrated policy and operational planning capability that supports current, contingency, and future operations.

• Outcome 1.4.1: Forecasting is used to help inform on the possible impacts of policy decisions and domestic or international events on immigration enterprise operations.
• Outcome 1.4.2: Capacity planning is developed and used to inform immigration policies and business decisions.
• Outcome 1.4.3: Forecasting and capacity planning are used to inform the legislative process.
• Outcome 1.4.4: The policies upon which decisions are made are periodically reviewed and evaluated for gaps, inconsistencies, and overlaps.

Objective 1.5: (Encourage legal avenues of immigration) Encourage the use of legal avenues of immigration.

• Outcome 1.5.1: Stakeholder needs and perspectives on impediments to legal immigration are identified through a coordinated, interagency outreach effort.
• Outcome 1.5.2: Stakeholder concerns are assessed and solutions are developed in an integrated, department-wide manner.
• Outcome 1.5.3: Solutions, policies, and policy changes are communicated to the public and stakeholders.

Goal 2:  Eliminate the conditions that allow and encourage aliens to illegally enter and remain in the United States.

Objective 2.1: (Reduce Demand for Illegal Workers) Reduce the demand for illegal workers.

• Outcome 2.1.1: Employers verify that all of their workers are authorized to work.
• Outcome 2.1.2: Employers are deterred from and held accountable for knowingly hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized workers.
• Outcome 2.1.3: All workers are protected from employers who abuse or exploit alien workers, and those employers are targeted by the full application of federal, state, and local law.
• Outcome 2.1.4: Employers are educated and aware of avenues available for meeting labor market demands for lawful workers.
• Outcome 2.1.5: Viable avenues are available for meeting labor market demands for lawful workers.

Objective 2.2:  (Prevent Fraud) Prevent fraud, abuse, or exploitation of the immigration system.

• Outcome 2.2.1: The identities of applicants for immigration benefits are established and verified through the use of biometrics at first contact and throughout the immigration process.
• Outcome 2.2.2: Criminal organizations and individuals are prevented from transporting, housing, or harboring unauthorized aliens.
• Outcome 2.2.3: Organizations or enterprises that traffic or exploit aliens are dismantled.
• Outcome 2.2.4: Fraud facilitators, criminal organizations, and individuals are prevented from utilizing immigration benefits or document fraud to facilitate the entry or presence of unauthorized aliens.
• Outcome 2.2.5: Individual applicants and petitioners who commit fraud are denied the opportunity to further abuse the system.
• Outcome 2.2.6: Information on fraud schemes, trends, and indicators is widely disseminated within the government immigration enterprise.
• Outcome 2.2.7: Aliens who are the victims of trafficking and exploitation recognize DHS as an agency to whom complaints may be brought.

Objective 2.3: (Eliminate Systemic Vulnerabilities) Eliminate systemic vulnerabilities that threaten the integrity of the immigration system.

• Outcome 2.3.1: The identities of applicants for immigration benefits are established and verified, through the use of biometrics, at first contact and throughout the immigration process.
• Outcome 2.3.2: Immigration decisions are made after evaluating and considering all relevant information throughout the immigration enterprise.
• Outcome 2.3.3: Fraud schemes, trends, and indicators are widely understood and drive decisions for improving the integrity of the system.
• Outcome 2.3.4: Information on immigration crime subjects (organizations and individuals), data, trends, and intelligence is accessible to all Federal immigration enforcement partners.
• Outcome 2.3.5: Databases used to support all aspects of screening are accurate, consistent, and harmonized.
• Outcome 2.3.6: Immigration programs and processes are regularly and systematically reviewed and analyzed, and vulnerabilities and patterns of abuse are addressed.

Goal 3:  Identify, prevent entry or admission, and remove criminal, fugitive, dangerous and other removable aliens from the United States, while providing safe and humane conditions and respecting the rights of those in our custody.

Objective 3.1: (Remove Dangerous People) Arrest, detain, and remove criminal, fugitive, dangerous, and removable aliens consistent with due process and civil rights protections.

• Outcome 3.1.1: Criminal and other dangerous aliens at-large are arrested and removed as first priority based upon risk to the community.
• Outcome 3.1.2: Participation in DHS-led programs is broadened to leverage the capabilities of law enforcement partners to target criminal and other dangerous aliens.
• Outcome 3.1.3: Criminal aliens in removal proceedings are detained or provided an appropriate alternative to detention.
• Outcome 3.1.4: The entry and exit of all aliens is recorded.
• Outcome 3.1.5: Human rights violators are identified, and removed or prosecuted.
• Outcome 3.1.6: Other removable aliens are identified, arrested, and removed.
• Outcome 3.1.7: Arrested aliens are screened to identify victims, refugees, and exploited persons.
• Outcome 3.1.8: International travel arrangements and documents are promptly obtained to support removals and repatriation.
• Outcome 3.1.9: Arrested aliens are provided with information regarding consular notification and opportunity to access legal resources.

Objective 3.2: (Prevent Entry or Admission of Dangerous People) Prevent the entry or admission of criminal, fugitive, dangerous, and other inadmissible aliens.

• Outcome 3.2.1: All non-citizens seeking admission are correctly identified through biometrics.
• Outcome 3.2.2: All non-citizens seeking entry or admission are screened to identify security concerns.
• Outcome 3.2.3: Threat information, immigration trends, criminal information, and intelligence are widely disseminated and understood.
• Outcome 3.2.4: Admissibility decisions are made based on all relevant information held by the United States government.
• Outcome 3.2.5: Dangerous and inadmissible aliens are denied benefits that would permit entry.
• Outcome 3.2.6: Undocumented migrants are deterred and prevented from attempting illegal entry.

Objective 3.3: (Create a Model Detention Program) Create and maintain a model detention program that provides a safe environment, quality medical care, and full compliance with detention standards.

• Outcome 3.3.1: Decisions regarding confinement and release are made and periodically reviewed based on the circumstances of the case and the law.
• Outcome 3.3.2: Legal information and assistance can be accessed by detainees in compliance with DHS detention standards.
• Outcome 3.3.3: Detention facilities comply with national standards.
• Outcome 3.3.4: Detainees receive quality health care for the duration of their custody.
• Outcome 3.3.5: Allegations of mistreatment are promptly and fairly investigated and appropriately addressed.
• Outcome 3.3.6: Detainees are treated with respect and dignity.
• Outcome 3.3.7: Detainees are housed in appropriate settings.
• Outcome 3.3.8: Temporary facilities are provided during a mass migration or emergency.

Objective 3.4: (Utilize International Partners) Improve coordination and cooperation with international partners on immigration enforcement.

• Outcome 3.4.1: Bilateral agreements and MOUs are in place with international partners to dissuade and detect illegal or unsafe migration and to support repatriations or removals during steady-state and mass migration.
• Outcome 3.4.2: Foreign information relevant to immigration decisions is readily available and easily obtained.
• Outcome 3.4.3: Foreign governments are influenced to improve the security of government documents.
• Outcome 3.4.4: Supporting foreign documentation is promptly verified or validated.
• Outcome 3.4.5: Partnerships with NGOs and the private sector actively support offshore migrant operations.

Goal 4:  Promote the integration of immigrants into American civil society.

Objective 4.1: (Facilitate Immigrant Integration) Provide leadership, support, and tools to immigrants to facilitate their integration into American society.

• Outcome 4.1.1: Public and private sectors collaborate to improve immigrant integration.
• Outcome 4.1.2: Naturalization is encouraged and facilitated for full participation in US society.
• Outcome 4.1.3: The significance of naturalization ceremonies is enhanced.
• Outcome 4.1.4: Civic participation is encouraged.

Objective 4.2: (Facilitate Community Cohesion) Provide leadership, support, and tools to communities to foster community cohesion.

• Outcome 4.2.1: Communities have the tools to actively support the social and civic integration of immigrants.
• Outcome 4.2.2: Accurate information on immigration facts is communicated to the public and stakeholders.
• Outcome 4.2.3: Federal, state, and local resources are used to protect civil rights and civil liberties of migrant populations.
• Outcome 4.2.4: Civic participation is encouraged.