ICE and USCIS Could Improve Data Quality and Exchange to Help Identify Potential Human Trafficking Cases – January 4, 2016

“Our match of ICE and USCIS data from 2005 to 2014 indicated that work and fiancé visas were the primary means by which 17 of 32 known traffickers brought victims into the United States. In addition, we determined that 274 subjects of ICE human trafficking investigations successfully petitioned USCIS to bring 425 family members and fiancés into the United States. Available data could not confirm whether or not these cases actually involved human trafficking. ICE and USCIS could improve data quality to facilitate the ability to identify instances of human trafficking. For example, ICE had to extensively manipulate its case management system to provide reasonably reliable data for matching purposes. USCIS did not always collect names and other identifiers of human traffickers that victims provided in their visa applications. Further, USCIS employees did not routinely share with ICE the data they collected on potential human traffickers. Without concerted DHS efforts to collect and share information, the risk exists that some human traffickers may remain unidentified and free to abuse other individuals.”