Thread: Border Agents Let Fake IDs Go Through

Border Agents Let Fake IDs Go Through
August 01, 2006 7:41 PM EDT

WASHINGTON - Undercover investigators entered the United States using fake documents repeatedly this year - including some cases in which Homeland Security Department agents didn't ask for identification.

At nine border crossings on the Mexico and Canadian borders, agents "never questioned the authenticity of the counterfeit documents," according to Government Accountability Office testimony to be released Wednesday.

"This vulnerability potentially allows terrorists or others involved in criminal activity to pass freely into the United States from Canada or Mexico with little or no chance of being detected," concluded the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, in testimony obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The findings, to be presented to the Senate Finance Committee, come as Congress considers delaying a 2007 deadline requiring passports or a small number of previously approved tamperproof ID cards from all who enter the United States.

Homeland Security spokesman Jarrod Agen said agents are trained to identify false birth certificates, driver's licenses and other documents. But he conceded that agents sometimes cannot verify more than 8,000 different kinds of currently acceptable IDs without significantly slowing border traffic.

"This creates a security vulnerability we were hoping to close" with the deadline at the end of next year, Agen said.

The GAO probe follows a similar inquiry in 2003 and 2004 when undercover investigators crossed unhindered into the United States at least 14 times using counterfeit drivers' licenses and, in one case, an expired, altered U.S. diplomatic passport. During that investigation, however, border agents in New York and Florida stopped three undercover officials who were using expired and forged passports, drivers' licenses or birth certificates.

By comparison, between February and June 2006, 18 GAO investigators breezed by border agents at checkpoints in California, Texas, Michigan, Idaho, Washington state, and twice each in Arizona and New York. In two cases - in Arizona and California - border agents did not ask the undercover investigators for any identification.

In a third case, in Texas, investigators offered to show identification - a counterfeit Virginia drivers' license. The border agent replied, "OK, that would be good," but released the investigators before inspecting it, according to the prepared testimony by GAO investigator Gregory D. Kutz.

Two of the 9/11 hijackers used fake Virginia residency certificates to get valid state ID cards needed to board the planes that flew into the World Trade Center. Neither GAO probe specified the location of any border checkpoints investigators went through.

The 9/11 Commission called for tougher ID card rules at borders to help prevent terrorists from entering the country. Responding, Congress in 2004 approved requirements for all travelers - including Americans - to show passports or a small number of other approved secure documents before entering the U.S.

Those requirements are supposed to take effect Dec. 31, 2007. But lawmakers from states that border Canada have since rebelled, contending the rules could hamper commercial and tourist travel. They are pushing to delay the rules by 17 months to ensure Homeland Security has proper technology to speed legitimate travel though border checkpoints.

Agen said Homeland Security agents intercepted 75,000 fraudulent documents from border travelers last year. The department last month arrested a Mexican fugitive suspected of running a counterfeit document operation whose fake ID cards have turned up in all 50 states.

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?gui ... -494576990

Nothing to worry about here.

George Bush has just dispatched his crack squad of border enforcement agents to correct the problem.

Count, if that the crack squad, we're in trouble!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14140370/

Click Here for Video

Investigation: U.S. borders perilously porous
Federal investigators easily pass border checks using fake identification

By Lisa Myers
Senior investigative correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 2 hours, 23 minutes ago

Along the northern and southern borders, undercover federal investigators tried to enter the United States using fake driver’s licenses and fake birth certificates.

The results? Staggering. At all nine border crossings tested, investigators got in easily. Not a single border agent detected the phony IDs. In fact, at two crossings, agents didn't even check any IDs at all.

"Well, this is totally unacceptable,” says Thomas Kean, former chairman of the 9/11 commission.

"Well, this is totally unacceptable,” says Thomas Kean, former chairman of the 9/11 commission.

Well, I should say so!

I think they need to schedule some Congressional hearings on this right away!

Of course, they can't do it this month because they're all on vacation, then there's that election in the fall, then the Winter Holidays.

Maybe they could free up some time next summer, if they can fit it in between their vacation breaks.

The findings, to be presented to the Senate Finance Committee, come as Congress considers delaying a 2007 deadline requiring passports or a small number of previously approved tamperproof ID cards from all who enter the United States.

TAMPERPROOF - my Aunt Martha's bustle!!!!!!!!! There is NO SUCH ANIMAL. If a man made it, another man can tamper with it.

Homeland Security spokesman Jarrod Agen said agents are trained to identify false birth certificates, driver's licenses and other documents. But he conceded that agents sometimes cannot verify more than 8,000 different kinds of currently acceptable IDs without significantly slowing border traffic.

Why do we allow 8,000 different kinds of "currently acceptable IDs"? And frankly, WHO CARES IF WE "SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW" BORDER TRAFFIC?

The 9/11 Commission called for tougher ID card rules at borders to help prevent terrorists from entering the country. Responding, Congress in 2004 approved requirements for all travelers - including Americans - to show passports or a small number of other approved secure documents before entering the U.S.

Those requirements are supposed to take effect Dec. 31, 2007. But lawmakers from states that border Canada have since rebelled, contending the rules could hamper commercial and tourist travel. They are pushing to delay the rules by 17 months to ensure Homeland Security has proper technology to speed legitimate travel though border checkpoints.

This is the part that gets me, since earlier in the article they said that some DHS agents didn't even ask for ID.

Are we really in a War on Terror?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/us/03 ... ref=slogin

August 3, 2006
Federal Audit Identifies Lapses in Security at Border Crossings
By RACHEL L. SWARNS
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 — Border Patrol agents allowed undercover investigators carrying counterfeit documents to enter the United States repeatedly this year and on at least two instances allowed the investigators to enter without providing any documentation at all, a federal auditor said on Wednesday.

The findings, from the Government Accountability Office, found that the border agents failed to question the authenticity of fake drivers’ licenses at nine United States border crossings with Mexico and Canada from Feb. 9 through May 24 of this year. In each instance, the undercover investigators claimed to be American citizens.

“This vulnerability potentially allows terrorists or others involved in criminal activity to pass freely into the United States from Canada or Mexico with little or no chance of being detected,” said Gregory D. Kutz, a federal auditor for the accountability office, who testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

The audit comes three years after the office uncovered identical security gaps when undercover investigators entered the United States at least 14 times using counterfeit drivers’ licenses and, in one case, an expired, altered United States diplomatic passport.

During that investigation, however, border agents in New York and Florida stopped three undercover officials who were using expired and forged passports, drivers’ licenses or birth certificates. None were stopped this time.

“Those G.A.O. investigators could have been known criminals, wanted fugitives, or even terrorists,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and the Finance Committee chairman. “But they were just waived into our country. Frankly, it’s hard to believe that there has been so little progress in plugging this gaping security hole.”

Jayson P. Ahern, an assistant commissioner at the United States Customs and Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security, said the agency would “take action to address the vulnerabilities identified by the recent G.A.O. investigation.”

Mr. Ahern said the agency would provide additional training to Border Patrol agents on how to identify fraudulent documents, among other things.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5773

The GAO report on Border security.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06976t.pdf

Press Releases


Fact Sheet: Combating Fraudulent Documents

Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

DHS has been working closely with the Department of State to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This initiative will require travelers to present secure identity documentation when entering the United States. WHTI will ensure the free movement of people and cargo across the border while increasing the nation’s security.

Today, Thousands of Different Types of Documents Can Currently Be Used at the Border: Over 8,000 different types of documentation are presented by travelers to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Limiting the number and type of documents accepted will help our inspectors zero in on the individuals that present the greatest threat to our country.

75,000 Intercepted With Fraudulent Documents: CBP Officers intercepted more than 75,000 fraudulent documents last year and over 47,000 to-date with 4 months left in the Fiscal Year. On an average day, CBP Officers deny entry to 868 non-citizens and 5 criminal aliens attempting to enter the country, and has denied entry to over 334,000 aliens during the current Fiscal Year.


Border Officer Training

CBP Officers undergo security training to determine what genuine documents look like and how documents can be altered. CBP also trains Officers to watch for imposters – people who use genuine documents but are not the legitimate bearer of those documents. CBP Officers working primary inspection are taught to recognize possible fraudulent documents and to refer those questionable documents to secondary for further review and consultation.


19,000 trained in fraudulent document detection: Since 2003, CBP has trained nearly 19,000 CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists in fraudulent document detection. In addition, CBP has trained more than 1,600 Officers in advanced skills in behavioral analysis. CBP has also embedded fraudulent document training into approximately 40 other training courses.


Biometrics and International Cooperation

DHS is also harnessing 21st century technology and biometric information to increase the likelihood of apprehending criminal or terrorist elements attempting to enter the U.S. US-VISIT has processed more than 61 million people applying for admission at U.S. ports of entry. Nearly 1,200 criminals and immigration violators have been intercepted upon entry into the United States based on the biometric alone.

US-VISIT at Ports of Entry: US-VISIT has integrated the collection and use of biometrics into the admission process at 115 U.S. airports, 14 seaports, and 154 land border ports of entry and provided the same capability to the Department of State’s BioVisa program operating at 211 visa-issuing posts worldwide. This new tool, available to DOS and DHS officers, has greatly enhanced our collective ability to detect fraudulent documents.

Power of Biometrics: US VISIT owes a great deal of its success to the power of biometrics. Biometrics identify the traveller, protect privacy and make it virtually impossible to cross borders using fraudulent documents or to assume another’s identity.

Lost and Stolen Passports: Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are held to several measures concerning lost and stolen passports such as -- reporting all lost and stolen passports to INTERPOL and DHS, as quickly as possible; reporting all intercepted lost and stolen passports to DHS’ Fraudulent Document Analysis Unit; sharing information on trends and analysis of lost and stolen passports; and providing detailed information on other VWP passport security features.

ICE Document Fraud Operations

11 Document & Benefit Fraud Task Forces: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces, which were formally announced in April 2006, serve as one of ICE’s key tools against document fraud. Located in 11 major U.S. cities, these are multi-agency task forces that bring together investigators from different agencies to combat document fraud and the related problem of immigration benefit fraud. Thus far, these task forces have spearheaded investigations that have resulted in more than 287 criminal arrests, 188 indictments, 294 seizures, and 48 search warrants around the country.

Forensic Document Laboratory (FDL): The ICE FDL is another tool in the arsenal against document fraud. The FDL is the federal government’s only forensic crime laboratory dedicated exclusively to fraudulent document detection and deterrence. It is also recognized as one of the premiere fraudulent document analysis facilities in the world. In fiscal year 2005, the FDL received 4,180 submissions for forensic document examinations and fingerprint examinations. The lab also completed 3,918 additional outstanding cases in this time period. Furthermore, the FDL responded to 3,942 requests for information via telephone and e-mail. The laboratory distributed nearly 100 document intelligence products and trained 1,668 individuals in fraudulent document recognition.

Selected ICE Fraudulent Document Cases:

Castorena Family Organization -- On June 17, 2006, Pedro Castorena-Ibarra, the accused leader of one of the largest fraudulent document organizations ever targeted by U.S. law enforcement, was arrested in Guadalajara, Mexico pursuant to an ICE provisional arrest warrant. One of ICE’s Most Wanted fugitives, Castorena was indicted in Denver in 2005 on federal document fraud and money laundering violations. His organization, known as the Castorena Family Organization, oversaw counterfeit document cells or “franchises” in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Denver Las Vegas and other major U.S. cities. ICE agents have prosecuted more than 50 members of the Castorena organization in Denver alone. Fake documents linked to the Castorena organization have been found in all 50 U.S. states.

Operation Card Shark -- Operation Card Shark is an ongoing ICE Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force case in the Washington, D.C. area. To date, this investigation has dismantled seven fraudulent document laboratories, yielded 60 criminal prosecutions, and resulted in the seizure of more than 10,000 documents worth roughly $1 million. The investigation has led to the apprehension of more than 200 illegal aliens.

Mississippi / Abu Sayyaf Case -- On May 20, 2005, Cedric Carpenter and Lamont Ranson were sentenced in Mississippi for conspiring to sell false documents to individuals they believed were members of Abu Sayyaf, a Philippines-based group designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The investigation was conducted by ICE agents. Carpenter was sentenced to 63 months, while Ranson was sentenced to 29 months in prison.

18 for 18 between February and June of this year? That's pretty good, isn't it?

You say that's how many the border agents let through?

That's NOT good, is it.

I guess that explains why the "border agents" were not identified as CBP or ICE or DHS. Might some of the agents be other than Border Patrol?