**GAO-07-1131**                      Published: Sep 24, 2007. Publicly Released: Sep 24, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

International air passengers arriving in the United States are subject to an inspection to ensure they possess legal entry and immigration documents and do not bring in contraband, such as illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, or harmful pests and prohibited agriculture products. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, the customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections activities were integrated into one program led by DHS's office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, the three fees--whose collections totaled about $1 billion in fiscal year 2006--linked to these inspections remain statutorily distinct and are coadministered by CBP, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), both within DHS, and the Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). GAO was asked to examine how the fees are set, collected, and distributed, and the benefits and challenges of this process to agencies and stakeholders, including implications of consolidating these fees under the authority of DHS.

## Recommendations

## Matter for Congressional Consideration

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## Topics

Auditing and Financial Management

AirlinesCustoms administrationFederal agenciesFederal regulationsFinancial managementHomeland securityImmigrationInspectionInteragency relationsLegislationRegulatory agenciesUser fees