The USCIS, which is an agency in the DHS, also duplicated previous IT upgrade efforts and has not shown it can successfully execute on its plans, the OIG said. The inspector general noted that the agency's current effort covers some of the same ground as plans to replace legacy systems with a new case management system. Those plans were initially launched by a former CIO at the agency.

In September 2005, the OIG noted that the agency's CIO had been working on a strategy to bring in the new case management system. However, the USCIS discontinued that plan midstream later in 2005 and replaced it with the broader Business Transformation Program. Although the current effort continues to focus on upgrading the agency's technology, much of the planning conducted for the earlier upgrades has not been properly used, the OIG said in its most recent report.

The OIG pointed out that as part of the first "IT Modernization" plan, USCIS conducted a market study to identify procurement options and possible vendors -- and developed a request for proposals. The newer program, begun in October 2005, has launched a new market research effort to do the same thing, the OIG said.

In fact, the USCIS has canceled two business modernization efforts, which are designed to help the agency more efficiently process immigration benefits, since 2003, according to the report. And while the agency has made progress in planning for IT modernization, it faces challenges in finalizing its approach and moving to an actual implementation.

"As we reported in September 2005, although USCIS had taken some steps to place major IT projects under the control of its CIO, the bureau continued to operate with a decentralized IT management structure," according to the report. "Therefore, we recommend that USCIS complete implementation of plans to centralize IT by placing all IT employees, budgets, and systems under the CIO's authority and control."