Inspector's Field Manual - Gani

Inspector's Field Manual
authorization number, for example: "97-MIA-(E)-001."
Unusual delays or other discrepancies in the performance of an en route inspection shall be documented in
writing in memorandum form to the appropriate regional office. Any corrective actions proposed or taken by
managerial personnel shall also be referenced by memorandum.
(6) Commencement of en route inspection. Service officers are prohibited from commencement of the
inspection until the vessel is actually en route, i.e., free from moorings and under its own power
(7) Program monitoring. District directors shall institute local procedures for monitoring the conduct
of en route inspections. Officers conducting such inspections shall be given periodic refresher training on the
ethical standards which employees must uphold in the performance of their official duties. Instruction on the
standard schedule of disciplinary offenses and penalties for employees shall be included in this refresher
training. The importance of the role which local supervisors and managers play in the maintenance of ethical
standards, bot their own and that of their subordinates, shall also be emphasized. Local procedures shall be
established to closely monitor en route inspection activity. These procedures shall be designed to facilitate early
detection of procedural improprieties and prohibited practices. Procedures used to achieve these goals include
the initiation of locally designed monitoring activities and procedures as well as information-sharing liaison
activities between Service officials and cruise ship line representatives. A positive public relations posture
regarding these issues is a responsibility of all local supervisors and managers.
First-line supervisors play a vital role in assuring that en route inspections are conducted in a cost effective
manner. Information relating to assigned work schedules, actual hours worked, the numbers of passengers and
crew inspected and the most cost efficient use of salary and overtime resources should be retained by each
district and provided to Headquarters and regional officials upon request. This information should also be
considered when making en route assignments and monitoring such activities.
Inquiries shall be conducted in all instances in which management personnel become aware of noncompliance
with en route inspection policies and procedures. Such inquiries shall be conducted by one or more management
officials who are at least one managerial level above the managerial official who authorized the inspection.
Written inquiry results shall be forwarded, through channels, to the district director. In situations where such
inquiry reveals that Service policy has been violated, district directors shall institute appropriate corrective
action, including disciplinary action, if warranted.
Regional offices shall promptly be notified of all instances of noncompliance. These offices shall also be
apprised of corrective or disciplinary actions proposed or taken with respect to such incidents. Unusual
circumstances affecting the conduct of en route inspections, such as those which would attract media attention or
congressional interest should be reported promptly.
(8) Presence of family members on en route inspections. It is prohibited, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
201(c)(1)(B), for accompanying family member or friends of INS officers conducting en route inspections to
travel with the employee either for free or at a substantially discounted fare not available to the general public.
Such fares constitute benefits of value, which would not be received, were it not for the position and authority of
the officer to inspect passengers and crew. Further, 5 CFR 2635.202(a)(2) states that employees shall not, directly
or indirectly, solicit or accept a gift because of the employees official position. Also, 5 CFR 2635.502(a) prohibits
employees of the federal government from participating in a matter which would cause a reasonable person to
question such employees' impartiality.
23.2 Exceptions to Inspection Requirements.
(a) General. Statute requires the inspection of every arriving passenger and crewmember upon arrival in the
United States. See section 235 of the Act and 8 CFR 235.1. Service policy interpretation provides some
clarification regarding persons whose comings to the U.S. are not treated as "arrivals," thereby not requiring
inspection. Service policy excludes the following from the ordinary inspectional procedures:
(1) Any person, including an alien crewman, passing through the Panama Canal on board a vessel
which enters and clears at the Canal port only to transit, refuel, or to land passengers or crewmen for medical
treatment, shall not be regarded as coming from a foreign port solely by reason of such passage;