IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PRE-INSPECTION PROGRAM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02130184
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-01198
• Publication Date: January 23, 1959

Approved for Release: 2022/08/15 CO2130184
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23 January 1959
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Immigration and Naturalization Service
Pre-Inspection Program
1. This memorandum is for information only �
2. In accordance with your request, following is-the current
situation with regard to General SW/JIGIs proposed pre-inspection
program abroad as known to this Staff from informal discussions
with officials of other Government agencies.
3. General SWING is very much Interested in establishing a
pre-inspection program abroad so that immigrants can be admitted
at the U.S. port of entry without further interview. He states that
he is primarily interested is doing this in accordance with the
desire of President EISENHOWER to streamline international travel.
Pre-inspection has been carried out in Bermuda and Canada for the
past seven years. General SWING is immediately interested in
establishing this program in Cuba and Mexico. A previous attempt
in 1954 to set up this machinery in Cuba failed to get the necessary
approval.
4. General SWING is presently negotiating with the Department
of State on the matter of pre-inspection. It is understood that State
is very much opposed as they feel that it might lead to I&NS absorbing
visa issuance functions. The Bureau of the Budget is also interested
from the point of view of funds and assignment of additional personnel.
Should present negotiations fail, it is believed that I&NS will then
refer the matter to the Attorney General. It is generally felt that if
no accord is reached with State, the matter might be presented to the
National Security Council, and might necessitate additional legislation
before implementation.
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S. In the meantime, after the propoeed law, which would
have permitted 'ELM to take over the visa-issuing function, did not
pass in the last Congress, the Department of State entered into an
agreement with Justice to permit SIMS to place certain additional --
representatives abroad to participate in the review of visa applica-
tions to determine eligibility for entry into the United States. I&NS
had a particularly strong position to justify this request because
of a recent amendment to the bnmigration and Naturalization Act
permitting consideration of persons previously found ineligible
because of criminal records, moral turpitude, or similar reasons.
but who had relatives previously admitted to the United States. In
these cases, and there are many, l&NS must conduct considerable
Investigation before actual entry and a large part of this must be
done abroad. Following this agreement, l&NS has assigned about
ten representatives abroad in addition to those already assigned in
"heavy business" areas such as Vienna. Mexico City, and Havana.
It is understood that IlANS new has placed representatives in Hong
Kong, Montreal, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Naples, Rome, and Athens;
and consideration is also being given to assignments in London,
Lisbon, and Copenhagen.
6. Ur. S. J. Papich (or a knowledgeable Government official)
has made the observation that somas of the** l&NS representatives
abroad are irpretty sharp boys" who are GS.14's or above and that
he felt that it was General SWING'. intention to raise their grades-
to GS-I5 or higher. He further observes that over and above visa--
issuing responsibilities, General SWING, being very intelligence-
minded, wants to have representatives abroad so that he can see -
"what's going on" and make his own observations on political develop.
m eats which would possibly affect the entry of certain aliens into
the United States.
7. The I&NS representatives presently abroad work closely
with the consular sections of the Embasaies. It is believed that
they raise question. as they see fit in the ease of controversial
irdividuals and may have the right to question applicants directly.
It is further believed that they are undoubtedly of help to the-consular
sections in visa cases, and ether knotty problems of border-crossing,
itinerant labor, Chinese fraud cases, etc.
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s it may be ignificant to note that I&NS has now appointed
an, "Associate Deputy Conunissioner in Charge of Travel Control".
T he bill to transfer visa-issuing functions to 'SENS has been
re-introduced at the curremt Congress on 7 January (HR 376).
James Angleton
ChieL Counter Intelligence Staff
CC: DDC1
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