Thread: 160 Arrested for Passport Fraud in California

C.B.P. News Release

160 Arrested, Prosecuted for Passport Fraud at California Border Ports

(Tuesday, December 16, 2008) contacts for this news release San Ysidro, Calif. – During its first year, a joint enforcement initiative to stem passport fraud at California border ports of entry launched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Attorney’s office in San Diego has resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 160 individuals for felonies related to the use of false passports or other documents.

The operation began in November 2007 at three of the nation’s busiest land border ports with Mexico: San Ysidro, neighboring Otay Mesa and Calexico in Imperial County.

In addition to the 160 cases, federal officials issued three warrants for individuals currently in state custody. In 41 of the cases the defendants had been deported from the United States on at least one prior occasion. Another 40 cases involved smugglers, convicted sex offenders or other violent criminals. And 20 of those prosecuted were U.S. citizens.

During its first months, the enforcement effort at the three ports of entry initially resulted in the detection and seizure of about 20 illicit U.S. passports each week; however, the seizures quickly increased to more than 60 per week as federal officers became increasingly adroit at spotting fraud and developed enhanced information to allow them to better focus their efforts.

The upcoming Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative mandates that, by this coming June, all U.S. citizens entering the United States at its ports of entry must produce a secure travel document such as a passport, passport card, trusted traveler document, or an enhanced driver’s license from a participating state. This initiative may increase the illicit market for U.S. travel documents lost, stolen or sold by U.S. citizens, which later are used by smugglers or criminals. These concerns prompted the joint enforcement project, which embedded a seasoned Diplomatic Security Service special agent with the ports’ criminal enforcement units to develop a multifaceted approach to protect the integrity of U.S. travel documents and to ferret out fraudulent use.

“CBP, DSS, and the U.S. Attorney’s office realized WHTI’s potential impact and took preemptive steps to ensure the safety of the public and its travel documents prior to the law’s full implementation,â€

Obama will stop all these raid and any other enforcement actions will will result in this country's transformation into a lawless third world cesspool.

Aren't we a country of rule of laws?

yes we are a country of laws. Obama just doesn't believe that we have the right laws, and the right Constitution by the way. Well that's my opinion.

I' going to forward this story on to members of Congress since it is an official news release. In my state it likely won't do much good but for those of you with moderate or conservative Congressional members maybe you should do the same.