**GAO-10-328**                      Published: May 24, 2010. Publicly Released: Jul 22, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

Alien smuggling along the southwest border is a threat to the security of the United States and Mexico. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Investigations (OI)--part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)--is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating alien smuggling along the southwest border. As requested, this report addresses, for the southwest border, (1) OI's efforts to counter alien smuggling since 2005, and opportunities, if any, for ICE to use its resources more effectively; (2) the progress DHS has made in seizing alien smugglers' assets since fiscal year 2005 and any promising techniques that could be applied to seize smugglers' assets; and (3) the extent to which ICE has objectives related to alien smuggling and measures to assess progress. GAO interviewed officials in all four OI offices along the southwest border and analyzed data on OI's cases and seizures, from fiscal years 2005 through 2009.

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

See All 6 Recommendations

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Highlights

Full Report (76 pages)

Accessible Text 

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Rebecca S. Gambler
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## Topics

Justice and Law Enforcement

Border patrolsBorder securityCrimesDrug traffickingFederal lawHomeland securityImmigration enforcementImmigrationInvestigations by federal agenciesInvestigations into federal agenciesLaw enforcementPerformance appraisalPerformance measuresProgram evaluationReal propertyRisk managementSearch and seizureSecurity threatsSmugglingPolicies and procedures

## Multimedia

## Podcasts

##### Alien Smuggling along the Southwest Border

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