April 1, 2001 – September 30, 2001
Office of the Inspector General
APPENDIX IV
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following are definitions of specific terms as they are used in the report.
ADIT (I-551) Stamp: An INS stamp placed in an alien’s passport, signifying temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence.
Alien: Any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.
Border Crossing Card: An INS identification card (Form I-586) issued to Mexican nationals residing along the border in Mexico that permits entry into the United States for shopping or visits of short duration.
Combined DNA Index System (CODIS): A computerized framework for storing, maintaining, tracking, and searching DNA specimen information. CODIS refers to the entire system of DNA databases (currently convicted offender and forensic databases) maintained at the national, state, and local levels. At present, CODIS consists of three distinct levels: the National DNA Index System, State DNA Index System, and Local DNA Index System.
DNA Profile: A set of DNA identification characteristics that permits the DNA of one person to be distinguished from that of another person.
Employment Authorization Document (I-688B): An INS document issued to aliens who have been granted permission to be employed in the United States but are not permanent residents or citizens.
External Audit Report: The results of audits and related reviews of expenditures made under Department of Justice contracts, grants, and other agreements. External audits are conducted in accordance with the Comptroller General’s Government Auditing Standards and related professional auditing standards.
Green Card: INS Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151 or Form I-551) that serves as evidence of authorized stay and employment in the United States.
Information: Formal accusation of a crime made by a prosecuting attorney as distinguished from an indictment handed down by a grand jury.
Internal Audit Report: The results of audits and related reviews of Department of Justice organizations, programs, functions, computer security and information technology, and financial statements. Internal audits are conducted in accordance with the Comptroller General’s Government Auditing Standards and related professional auditing standards.
Material Weakness: A failure in a system of control, or a lack of control determined by the agency head to be important enough to be reported to the President and Congress. A weakness of this type could significantly impair fulfillment of an agency’s mission; deprive the public of needed services; violate statutory or regulatory requirements; significantly weaken safeguards against waste, loss, unauthorized use or misappropriation of funds, property, or other assets; and/or result in a conflict of interest.
National: A person owing a permanent allegiance to a nation.
National DNA Index System (NDIS): The FBI-maintained national component of CODIS. NDIS contains DNA profiles uploaded from approved State DNA Index Systems.
Port of Entry: Any location in the United States or its territories that is designated as a point of entry for aliens and U.S. citizens.
Qualified Opinion: The judgment by the certified public accountant in the audit report that “except for” something, the financial statements fairly present the financial position and operating results of the component.
Questioned Cost: Cost that is questioned by the OIG because of (a) an alleged violation of a provision of a law, regulation, contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other agreement or document governing the expenditure of funds; (b) a finding that, at the time of the audit, such cost is not supported by adequate documentation; or (c) a finding that the expenditure of funds for the intended purpose is unnecessary or unreasonable.
Recommendation that Funds be Put to Better Use: Recommendation by the OIG that funds could be used more efficiently if management of an establishment took actions to implement and complete the recommendation, including (a) reductions in outlays; (b) deobligation of funds from programs or operations; (c) withdrawal of interest subsidy costs on loans or loan guarantees, insurance, or bonds; (d) costs not incurred by implementing recommended improvements related to the operations of the establishment, a contractor, or grantee; (e) avoidance of unnecessary expenditures noted in pre-award reviews of contract or grant agreements; or (f) any other savings that are specifically identified.
Record of Arrival and Departure (I-94): Form provided to each nonimmigrant visitor to the United States that contains the alien’s date of arrival, class of admission, and date of departure.
Reportable Condition: Includes matters coming to the auditor’s attention that, in the auditor’s judgment, should be communicated because they represent significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls, which could adversely affect the entity’s ability to properly report financial data.
Restitution Funds: Payments to victims of crimes or civil wrongs ordered by courts as part of a criminal sentence or civil or administrative penalty.
Secondary Inspection: A secondary inspection at a port of entry allows an INS inspector to conduct a more in-depth review of a traveler’s documents and perform tasks that cannot be completed within the limited time frame of the primary inspection.
Senate Bill 121: The Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2001, introduced by Senator Feinstein.
Supervised Release: Court-monitored supervision upon release from incarceration.
Unqualified Opinion: The judgment of the certified public accountant who has no reservation as to the fairness of the component’s financial statements.
Unsupported Cost: Cost that is questioned by the OIG because the OIG found that, at the time of the audit, such cost is not supported by adequate documentation.