House Panel Approves Measure That Would Abolish the INS

WASHINGTON — The Immigration and Naturalization Service would be abolished under legislation approved Wednesday by a House subcommittee. In its place, two separate bureaus would enforce the nation’s immigration laws and dole out benefits.

“The INS is broken and must be fixed,” said GOP Rep. Lamar S. Smith of Texas, chair of the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration and claims. “The agency moves from one crisis to the next, with no strategy on how to accomplish its missions successfully.”

The subcommittee, on a 4-3 party-line vote, approved the restructuring measure by Smith and Reps. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) and Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas), neither of whom is on the panel.

The bill would not appear to be going anywhere in the Senate, one subcommittee Democrat predicted. “This is not going to become law,” said Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills). “This is not going to pass the Senate.”

Immigrant-rights advocates say GOP Sen. Spencer Abraham of Michigan, chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, has privately assured them that he has no intention of taking up INS restructuring this year. But a spokesman for the senator, Joe Davis, said restructuring does remain a priority for Abraham, who intends to move ahead with his own legislation this year.

There is widespread consensus, within and outside the INS, that reform is needed. The agency has struggled to meet its mandate because of internal divisions, outmoded technology and management missteps.

Supporters of the House legislation say separating the INS’ sometimes competing missions is necessary to improve enforcement and the delivery of immigration benefits such as citizenship.

The measure would create separate bureaus of immigration enforcement and services within the Justice Department, headed by separate directors and funded by distinct budgets.