A government watchdog report out this month finds that Information Technology systems run by the Department of Homeland Security failed to keep track of migrants during processing at the border in 2021.
The Office of Inspector General found breakdowns in the data input systems meant to keep tabs on migrants whereabouts during apprehension, transfer and release.
Auditors found in some cases, apprehension times were not being consistently recorded by Customs and Border Protection personnel and key data was missing about family type, U.S. sponsors and addresses where migrants were headed.
As a result, the watchdog agency said family reunification could be delayed, and the time migrants spend in custody could exceed the legal limit. The report also said without accurate data, DHS was less likely to be able to keep families together in appropriate facilities.
Auditors recommended the agency bolster its IT systems and address the problems identified. It said DHS has agreed with all the report's recommendations.
