TRAC: Scholarly Resource for Immigration Research

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) today [April 4, 2006] launched a unique new website providing extensive information about one
of most important and politically sensitive subjects in America today — immigration control. Go to:

http://trac.syr.edu/immigration
Developed with the support of the JEHT Foundation, the Ford Foundation and Syracuse University, the site offers one-stop shopping for a broad array of authoritative information about what is now one of the largest single enforcement and control efforts in the United States.

The first edition of TRAC’s new site, among other features, includes:

(1) separate clearly written reports on important immigration matters,

(2) a special TRAC tool that provides one-click access to the very latest monthly data on criminal enforcement of the immigration laws, along
with a clear explanatory text,
(3) an extensive library of immigration reports by the GAO, CRS and inspectors general,

(4) a plain English glossary of frequently used words and acronyms and much more.

Some key findings in the initial reports:

— Long term and regional data raise questions about the assertion that adding Border Patrol agents results in increased apprehensions.

— Of the millions of inspections of those seeking entry into the United States last year at all of the nation’s hundreds of “designated ports of entry”, less than one tenth of one percent were refused entry.

— Government staffing data show that the events of 9/11 had only modest impact on the overall size of the Border Patrol and the distribution of its agents around the country.

Also included on the site is a dedicated area with data about long-term trends and regional variation on such subjects as Border Patrol apprehensions, staffing and criminal enforcement of the immigration laws.
Other data describe the government’s inspections activities at the designated ports of entry.

The site is very much a work in progress; a range of additional reports and studies on a variety of different immigration subjects — including the exercise of discretion within the immigration courts — are
planned. These reports and the latest data obtained from the government will be posted as the information is obtained from the various agencies, checked for accuracy and completeness and analyzed.

The purpose of the site — developed on the basis of TRAC’s well-tested data collection efforts and expert data analysis skills — is to provide the American people, Congress, immigration groups, reporters and
others with the authoritative information they need to judge the performance of the government in this critical area.

David Burnham and Susan B. Long, co-directors


Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse


Syracuse University


488 Newhouse II


Syracuse, NY 13244-2100


315-443-3563


trac@syr.edu


http://trac.syr.edu