An Overview of
Federal Drug Control Programs
on the Southwest Border

Immigration and Naturalization Service

---

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is responsible for:

• Facilitating legal border crossings;

• Ensuring appropriate documentation of aliens at entry and to deny entry to those who are not legally admissible, whether they attempt to enter through ports of entry or surreptitiously across the border;

• Deterring illegal entry and stay, including enforcement of criminal provisions against those who act or conspire to promote such entry and stay; and

• Detecting, apprehending, and removing those noncitizens who entered unlawfully, whether undocumented or fraudulent, and those found to have violated the conditions of their stay.

INS carries out these responsibilities along the Nation's borders and at legal ports of entry, and cooperates with other Federal agencies in locating, apprehending, and removing alien drug traffickers at the border, at ports of entry, and within the interior of the United States. INS also works with these agencies to escort alien witnesses in the United States to testify in drug trials.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In FY 1996, the Border Patrol seized more than 650,000 pounds of marijuana along the Southwest border. In FY 1995, the figure was more than 600,000 pounds and in FY 1994 slightly less than 550,000 pounds.

At Southwest border land ports of entry, INS seized more than 75,000 pounds of marijuana in FY 1996; approximately 60,000 pounds in FY 1995; and approximately 50,000 pounds in FY 1994.