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INS REVEALS THAT SOME DOCUMENTS AND FILES WERE ACCIDENTALLY
SHREDDED
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.
The Los Angeles Times reported recently that the
Immigration and Naturalization Service is currently investigating
reports that immigration documents mailed to its California Service
Center (CSC) may have been improperly shredded by a database contractor
working for the INS.
The CSC covers Southern and Northern California,
Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. It receives an average of 60,000
pieces of mail each week, including application for a number of
immigration benefits, such as naturalization, petitions, detailed
affidavits and crucial documents supporting the petitioners' and
beneficiaries' applications. These documents could be anything
from birth certificates, affidavits of support, marriage certificates,
letters from employers, affidavits, character references, photos,
naturalization certificates, and other important records.
The INS has suspended all shredding operations at
the CSC. The INS has also expanded telephone inquiry services
to handle calls from the public, who are making inquiries.
The INS is doing everything possible to rectify
the situation, which can affect so many people's hopes and dreams.
The INS said it will work closely with attorneys and immigrant
advocates to help reconstruct applicants' files, if, and when,
necessary. The shredding may cause further delays in the processing
of some immigration applications.
Many people may have filed their applications on
their own, without the aid of an attorney, and submitted originals,
without making copies. If these are among those files which were
shredded, these applicants may have to go through the difficult
task of determining which documents to re-submit, and again obtaining
the documents from the proper government agencies in the Philippines
and the United States.
Further delays in the processing of your applications
can bring disastrous results. You may have a child turning 21,
who could age out and lose his/her chance of adjusting to legal
status; or you could lose your job if the release of your work
authorization is delayed; or you may become out of status. For
more complicated immigration cases, timely submission of supporting
documents is very, very crucial.
If your documents were among those shredded, I recommend
that you consult with a reputable attorney, who can help you,
if necessary, reconstruct your file, re-obtain the needed documents,
and file the application in the proper manner on your behalf.
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