U.S. Customsrontline and Border Protection H Spring 2008
Border Security Northern, Southern and the ‘Third Border’ HFRONTLINE IMAGES CBP Air and Marine’s Blackhawk helicopter was one of several tools used to help secure airspace above Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. Photo by Gerald L. Nino HFRONTLINE IMAGES CBP Air and Marine’s Blackhawk helicopter was one of several tools used to help secure airspace above Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. spring 2008 H Features
6 Protecting the Southern Border 12 Along the Northern Border 18 Defending the Surprising Third Border 22 Our Partners Down Under 28 Q & A with Thomas S. Winkowski 30 CBP Partnerships
H DEPARTMENTS
3 Frontline Images 32 Around the Agency 38 In Focus 48 To the Trade 50 Agriculture Actions 52 Great Work 54 Frontline Awards 56 In Remembrance
on the cover: photo by Gerald L. Nino
H Illegal immigrants disembark yola after making landfall. Defending the Surprising Third Border Page 18 Commissioner’s message
Welcome to the first issue of Customs and Border Protection’s new quarterly magazine, Frontline. CBP is America’s frontline border agency charged with the difficult mission of securing our borders against terrorists and terrorist weapons, while ensuring S p r i n g 2 0 0 8 the free flow of legitimate trade and travel. We also protect our S e c retary of Homeland S e c u r i t y nation from illegal drugs, human smugglers, and tainted agricultural Michael Chertoff
and food products, as well as collect revenue on goods coming into the country. In Commissioner of U . S . C u s t o m s and Border Prote c t i o n essence, we guard the boundaries of freedom and stand between the good citizens of W. Ralph Basham
our nation and those who want to do us harm. With this new publication, we hope to a s s i s t a n t c o m m i s s i o n e r o f f i C E o f p u b l i c a f f a i r s reach the broadest spectrum of our partners and stakeholders and tell our story about Jeffrey C. Robertson
the important—and often dangerous—work we do across the nation and around the world. E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f This first edition—and all subsequent issues—will tell of everyday CBP heroes, Laurel Smith M a n a g i n g E d i t o r of the hard work and courage it takes to encounter illegal aliens, often alone, in a Dannielle Blumenthal, Ph.D.
desolate desert setting, of the steadfast dedication it takes to remain on constant alert S taff Writers to potential danger while still being courteous to the more than a million passengers Eric Blum, Elysa Cross, Linda Kane and visitors we clear into this nation each day, and the expertise and agility it takes to p r o d u c tion manager confront drug smugglers on the waterways or provide “eyes in the sky” for our agents Tracie Parker on the ground. Ours is a proud story of an agency that is five years old, but whose P h o t o g r a ph e r s James R. Tourtellotte legacy stretches back to the founding of our nation, and whose history is deeply rooted Gerald L. Nino in the finest traditions of both safeguarding the border and law enforcement. d e s i g n Richard Rabil, Juana Merlo, Joanne DiGiorgio Through this publication we also hope to tell of the good work we are doing with our The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined many partners—with other federal agencies, with state, local and tribal agencies, with that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction by CBP of public business as required. our private sector and international partners, and with Congress. We hope to provide Address letters and contributions to: information and insight into the many domestic and international programs we have put M a i l : Managing Editor, Frontline, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in place since 9/11, and how we are working every day with our partners to secure our 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 3.4A, nation, protect our economy, and preserve the freedoms of our citizens. We will also tell Washington, D.C. 20229 E - M a i l : [email protected] of our long-range planning efforts to protect our homeland by constantly evaluating the F a x : 202.344.1393
changing nature of threats and evolving our strategies to meet those threats. CBP Web site address: www.cbp.gov We are excited to launch this new magazine that will provide a window into the Distribution: daily realities and challenges the men and women of Customs and Border Protection Do you want to add or delete your name from the distribution list? Have you changed your face and the sacrifices they make to serve and protect the American people. We are address? Please call 202.344.1310 or fax changes to 202.344.1179. pleased to invite you to learn about and celebrate CBP, America’s frontline. ■ —W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner
H C OMMISSIONER ' S m e s s a g e H f r o n t l i n e i m a g e s Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo Photo by James R. Tourtellotte R. James by Photo
H A CBP Air Interdiction agent patrols the skies. H CBP Air Interdiction agents make a law enforcement stop on an aircraft.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 Photo by James R. Tourtellotte R. James by Photo
H A team of CBP officers board a ship to check cargo and foreign workers.
H frontline images H f r o n t l i n e i m a g e s Photo by James R. Tourtellotte R. James by Photo
H Border Patrol agents make use of all-terrain vehicles to patrol along the rugged border with Mexico.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 First of a two-part series Protecting the Southern Border By David V. Aguilar
H s o u t h e r n b o r d e r H Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo
Interest in securing and protecting the southern border of the United States against all illegal incursions is at an all time high. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our country’s border management agency, is at the center of the firestorm of discussion and controversy on issues like illegal immigration, fences, increased border violence and deployment of the National Guard to the border. Here, Chief David V. Aguilar, the head of the CBP Office of Border Patrol since July 2004, speaks to some of the prominent issues facing the organization and addresses what it is like to be on the frontlines today.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo
H Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector intercept illegal immigrants attempting a border crossing under the cover of night.
Detecting, apprehending and preventing democracy, and our way of life through responded as the nation recognized the need illegal aliens, narcotics and other contraband terrorist acts, terrorism and terrorist to curb the influx of people entering the U.S. from crossing our borders between the ports weapons. Our agents know that this is the between official ports of entry. Those seeking of entry—these are the traditional missions greatest responsibility we have. illegal entry have ranged from those seeking for which the Border Patrol has long been a better life, to criminal elements seeking to known. These traditional missions are as New threats met with timeless skill and tenacity establish criminal enterprises and commit important today as they were in our past, Since the days of our mounted inspectors crimes in our country. and our people do an outstanding job that rode the borderlands of the southwest, As our nation has evolved so has our working to accomplish them. the Border Patrol has protected this country’s job. Few people know that the Border Patrol But by far, our most important mission borders. Very simply put, what we protect played a vital role during some of this today is protecting our country from the this country from has changed over the years, country’s most turbulent periods. During worst threat that we have faced as a nation: but our basic mission remains unaltered. We World War II, our officers guarded prisoners keeping people out of this country that defend the border. We have enforced U.S. laws of war in POW camps and patrolled the are intent on harming our families, our as they accommodated a maturing nation. We coastlines for German submarines. Our
H s o u t h e r n b o r d e r H During fiscal year 2007, our agents apprehended 858,000 illegal aliens, and had more than 144,000 hits of aliens with criminal backgrounds. Of this group, some 18,000 had records for serious felonies
such as homicide Nino L. Gerald by Photo and rape.
In addition, the Border H The modern day Horse Patrol continues to play a critical role in border enforcement, providing a way into areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Patrol intercepted
1.8 million pounds and narcotics smuggling on a large scale. the safety of the people they are smuggling. Before Border Patrol began strategic efforts They take men, women and children and of narcotics. to improve border control, urban areas like overload them in unsafe vehicles, place them El Paso, Texas and San Diego, California in the hands of unlicensed and reckless afforded the opportunity to cross the border drivers, and lock them in the back of tractor- with relative ease and access transportation trailers and rail cars. In order to avoid arrest, infrastructure such as airports, trains, buses, smugglers won’t hesitate to abandon the and taxis. Illegal entrants did not need to use people they are “guiding” across dangerous smugglers tied to a criminal infrastructure. terrain. Many people die at the hands of H Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector intercept illegal immigrants attempting a border crossing under the cover of night. Instead, they would employ local “guides” smugglers, which is why we focus many of to get them across the border. our efforts on identifying, confronting, and As we took away the urban and “easy” prosecuting these individuals. entry locations, illegal aliens began to seek Ironically, the fact that more smuggling officers served as deputized U.S. Marshals out smugglers to guide them across the more activity is occurring and the organizations during the civil rights movement. We were rural, remote areas. Smugglers also had to are becoming more sophisticated can there in Mississippi in 1961—escorting provide for transportation away from the be seen as a measure of the impact our students to class as the end of segregation in border after the initial entry to avoid our enforcement operations are having. our schools drew near. We served as the first “defense in depth” posture at checkpoints air marshals after our nation’s first hijacking and transportation hubs. The stronger our buzz on the border of an American airliner occurred in El enforcement presence has become, the greater During fiscal year 2007, our agents Paso, Texas. the need for smugglers to change their tactics apprehended 858,000 illegal aliens, and and organize their criminal enterprise to had more than 144,000 hits of aliens with Facing down the smugglers avoid apprehension. As we’ve become more criminal backgrounds. Of this group, some Harkening back to the Prohibition era, sophisticated, so have the smugglers. 18,000 had records for serious felonies such smugglers made large sums of money Smugglers are not good people. They are as homicide and rape. In addition, the bringing whiskey and other contraband criminals who illegally transit any “cargo” that Border Patrol intercepted 1.8 million into the United States. Now, we see alien will make them a profit with no concern for pounds of narcotics.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 While we do not apprehend terrorists or terrorist weapons every day, we recognize that there are people intent on entering this country to do us harm. They can and will try to mix in with the high levels of illegal activity at our borders. So we must continue to expand our level of control along our borders and maintain the focus on our “all threats” strategy, reducing the “clutter” that could be exploited by terrorists. Let me explain what I mean by “a cluttered border environment.” Roughly 90 percent of the illegal aliens we arrest are drawn to this country for socio-economic reasons. The remaining 10 percent consist of the criminal element who exploit the massive immigration flow to facilitate their entry. Reducing the overall number of illegal alien arrests results in a decrease in time spent transporting, processing, and removing these individuals. On any given day, this reduction effectively places more agents on the line in an enforcement posture, focusing on criminal activities and potential threats to our country. For example, in the Rio Grande Valley sector in fiscal year 2007, we saw a 34 percent decrease in overall illegal alien arrests and an almost 60 percent decrease in the number of illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico. This resulted in a 79 percent increase in the seizure of narcotics in the same area.
Marked progress on the southern border We’ve seen great progress along our borders, but certainly on the southern border. During fiscal year 2007 alone, there was a decrease in apprehensions of almost 20 percent on the southwest border. This decrease in overall apprehensions is a major first step in ultimately defending our borders against those who mean to do us harm. Apprehensions and apprehension statistics are an important factor in measuring border activity levels, but numbers aren’t the only measure of control of our borders. We built more than 70 Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo miles of fence this past fiscal year along the southern border with Mexico. We deployed up to 6,000 National Guard personnel to assist us in operations while we internally built up our own capacity, and 2,500 new Border Patrol agents joined our ranks. We H The National Guard working on the southwest border to construct barriers to entry. deployed new ground surveillance radar systems and upgraded sensor technology
Roughly 90 percent of the illegal aliens we arrest are drawn to this country for socio-economic reasons. The remaining 10 percent consist of the criminal element who exploit the massive immigration flow to facilitate their entry.
10 H s o u t h e r n b o r d e r H P hoto by James James by hoto R . . T ourtellotte
H Processing of a single illegal immigrant can take from 30 minutes to more than an hour.
along our borders. CBP Air and Marine Working under intense scrutiny borders, responds to the threats that stood up a new air branch and deployed The Border Patrol has always been at our nation faces, and manages the risks additional unmanned aerial systems to the forefront of our nation’s security associated with those threats. improve air surveillance, response, and and has always been scrutinized by all Today we are not only managing support our mission. We have ended the facets of the American population. But I the resources we are getting, but the high practice of “catch and release” of “other than can state without a doubt that today the expectations the American public has of Mexicans” or OTM’s as they are called. We Border Patrol is under a level of scrutiny us. While we are getting the personnel, are removing certain categories of Mexican that few organizations will ever face. technology, and tactical infrastructure at aliens into the interior of Mexico. In The major difference is that in past years an unprecedented rate, and utilizing it addition, we are now regularly prosecuting we were under scrutiny but lacked the strategically and efficiently, the expansion people in criminal courts for the crime of organizational resource support required of our efforts is not fast enough for some. illegal entry. In the past, these things would to get the job done. Now, we are getting This is understandable. We have a massive have taken years to accomplish, and we have the resources that we need and are making job ahead of us! We are making progress, done it all in one year. headway in expanding operational control but we are not in any way claiming success Progress is also measured by other of our borders. yet. We are reaching levels of achievement factors such as quality of life. Today, there We will continue to be scrutinized, at a pace that is unimaginable by some of are houses and businesses in areas of the questioned, second-guessed, and critiqued, us that served within the last 10 years. But San Diego, El Paso, Rio Grande, Del Rio but given the importance of the job that we still have a long way to go. and Tucson sectors, which in past years we have been charged with, I would expect In the next issue, I will address were literally overrun by aliens, narcotics, nothing less. Our job now is to maintain Border Patrol agent training, technology, criminals, and criminal organizations. our focus and administer the resources we the impact of immigration policy and the These areas are now vibrant parts of are getting responsibly. Responsibly and critically important partnerships that the these communities. This makes me very in a manner that continues to address the Border Patrol has forged to keep our encouraged about the future. vulnerabilities that exist along our nations borders safe and secure. ■
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 11 Along the northern border By Linda Kane
12 H n o r t h e r n b o r d e r H Photo by Gerald L. Nino Nino L. Gerald by Photo
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 13 It used to be that the northern border was an open border, free and fluid, with more than 250,000 people legally crossing into the United States from Canada daily. But in an instant, the terrorist attacks of 9/11—like the first armed robbery in a small town—forever changed the behavior and thinking of once-trusting neighbors.
Both countries were caught off guard. The terrorist threat and timing devices hidden in the spare The United States, stunned by a terrorist CBP has intercepted potential terrorists tire well of his car. attack at home, now looked to figurative locks on the northern border. Most notable It isn’t just terrorists infiltrating Canada and keys to secure the homeland, not from its is Ahmed Ressam, arrested for the from abroad that poses a problem. There are neighbor, but from wanton destruction. The “millennium bomb” plot to attack Los a number of instances of Canadian citizens focus dramatically shifted from the efficient Angeles International Airport. Ressam being associated with terrorist activities. crossing of commerce and travelers across the was arrested after crossing the border In June of 2006, for example, a Canadian border to the implementation of full-fledged at the Port Angeles, Washington ferry counter-terrorism investigation led to the border security both north and south. landing. CBP officers found nitroglycerin arrests of 17 people accused of plotting Photo by by Photo G erald erald L . . N ino ino
H A K-9 officer checks a vehicle that is entering the U.S. at a northern border port of entry.
14 H n o r t h e r n b o r d e r H bombings in Ontario. What distinguished this group was not their plot, but their profile. They were young Canadian Muslims who had become radicalized while growing up in Canada—to the point of plotting against their own people. Most security risks to the United States from Canada, however, do not come from terrorism. The majority of risks don’t come from unauthorized migrant apprehensions, either, as they do on the southern border. The illegitimate travelers to the United States from Canada have different motives. Many are involved with the drug trade and are smuggling the high-potency, hydroponically grown British Columbian marijuana known as “BC bud” or other drugs. And some are involved in human trafficking.
Intertwined economies Even if the United States could lock down the border with Canada to keep the country safe, we wouldn’t want to. Canada and the United States are the world’s largest and most comprehensive trading partners. Canada is a larger market for U.S. goods than all 25 countries of the European Community combined. And about 33 percent of Canada’s gross domestic product is dependent on trade with the United States. CBP officers along the northern border deal with an impressive exchange of goods, processing more than 62 percent of all trucks and 85 percent of all trains nationwide. The two-way trade that crosses the Ambassador Bridge between Michigan and Ontario alone equals all U.S. exports to Japan.
A border of extremes The northern border spans more than 5,000 miles—4,121 miles of it a shared border by Photo with Canada. And monitoring human and G vehicle traffic across it is tricky. It is a border erald L . . N
of extremes, from remote to populous, ino with broad swings in temperature, and diverse geography; it offers thousands of potential accessible routes into the U.S. “On the southern border, looking for terrorists H The Ambassador Bridge between Michigan and Ontario is a major conduit for is like looking for the proverbial needle U.S.–Canadian trade. in a haystack. It is cluttered with illegal immigrants, but in the north you’re not looking through the masses but looking for the single terrorist in a vast border. It’s like Increased protective measures approximately 1,600 to more than 3,300. Air looking for a lost contact lens in Yankee Since 9/11 the number of resources dedicated and Marine presence was non-existent before Stadium,” says Leslie Lawson, acting deputy to the northern border has increased 2001 and today there are four air stations division chief, Operations Planning Analysis dramatically, bolstering CBP’s ability to open, staffed by more than 150 personnel. Division, CBP Border Patrol. detect, apprehend and deter illegal entries. Technology has also played a role In this environment, technology is In 2001 there were 340 Border Patrol agents with additional cameras and other detection critical to expand observation ranges and on the northern border; by the end of fiscal systems being employed along the border. detection capabilities. The technology used is year 2007 there were more almost 1,100. And at CBP ports of entry there has no different than that used on the southern The number of CBP officers working at been an increased use of non-intrusive border—infrared cameras, day cameras, northern border ports of entry has almost inspection technology. In addition, biometric ground sensors, and magnetic detectors. doubled during this same time period, from technology to verify the identity of incoming
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 15 Photo by by Photo G erald erald L . . N ino ino
H A CBP Border Patrol agent does a car-by-car train search, making sure there is no one trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
“A lot of ‘best practices’ have come out of the northern border.” —Leslie Lawson, acting deputy chief, Operations Planning Analysis Division, CBP Border Patrol
passengers is now being employed to ensure equivalent program for non-commercial human resources, technology and the veracity of travel documents. passengers who travel frequently across the infrastructure. But like a neighborhood, Programs that create a partnership northern border. all neighbors must play a part to maintain between CBP and frequent travelers or the peace and security of the community. commercial trade have also extended Success Canada and the United States are working our zone of security beyond the border. As a result of CBP’s actions, apprehensions jointly to streamline and establish a This includes trade programs such as on the northern border have steadily platform of consistency on border policies C-TPAT, whose members have agreed decreased from more than 12,000 in fiscal and management and collaborating to an established set of security measures year 2001 to around 6,300 in fiscal year to recognize common threats to both in exchange for expedited clearance to 2006—a result of increased enforcement governments. Much has changed since gain entry into the United States. It also activity serving as a deterrent. At the same 2001, but the words of former President includes FAST, a program that uses risk- time, we have continued to make notable John F. Kennedy in his 1961 address management principles, supply chain drug seizures along the border. before the Canadian Parliament still ring security, industry partnership, and advanced true, “Geography has made us neighbors. technology to improve the efficiency of A critical partnership History has made us friends. Economics screening and clearing of commercial Though unique, securing the northern has made us partners. And necessity has traffic at our shared border. NEXUS is the border is still a question of balancing made us allies.” ■
16 H n o r t h e r n b o r d e r H Ldkpk ^u Can]h` H* Jejk
=`]lpejc pk pda neckno Pda >kn`an L]pnkh qoao naokqn_abqhjaoo ]j` ola_e]heva` pa_djemqao pk i]j]ca pda jknpdanj ^kn`an* Dana pda _hei]pa ]j` pann]ej eil]_p amqeliajp ]j` ouopaio( namqenejc ]``epekj]h oanre_ejc kn ik`ebe_]pekj pk bqj_pekj qj`an _hei]_pe_ atpnaiao* Eb ] _]ian] naheao kj okh]n lksan( ep eo jk lnk^hai ej pda oqjju okqpdsaop( ^qp kj pda jknpdanj ^kn`an( pdana skjÑp ^a iq_d sejpan oqj ]j` ^]_gql lksan i]u jkp ^a na]`ehu ]r]eh]^ha* Ej kpdan _]oao( amqeliajp i]u ^a ajcejaana` pk sepdop]j` da]p kn _kh` ^qp jkp ^kpd atpnaiao* H]op sejpan( >kn`an Ldkpk ^u Can]h` H* Jejk L]pnkh ]cajpo _hei^a` _kiiqje_]pekj pksano pk _ha]n e_a bnki pdai ok pd]p pdau skqh` _kjpejqa pk bqj_pekj*
Î>a_]qoa kb pda r]nea` _d]hhajcao kj pda jknpdanj ^kn`an( oa_pkn i]j]caiajp d]o pk ^a ranu _na]pera ]j` bkns]n`)pdejgejc* Pdau ]na ejjkr]pera ej _kiejc ql sepd okhqpekjo pk lnk^haio ]j` ej haran]cejc l]npjanodelo ]j` naokqn_ao* = hkp kb Ð^aop ln]_pe_aoÑ d]ra _kia kqp kb pda jknpdanj ^kn`an(Ï o]uo ]_pejc @alqpu ?deab H]sokj*
Bkn at]ilha( ej =lneh .,,2 pda Olkg]ja oa_pkn aop]^heoda` ] dknoa l]pnkh qjep ej a]_d kb epo oaraj heja op]pekjo* >qp qjhega kpdan >kn`an L]pnkh dknoa l]pnkh qjepo( pdeo oa_pkn qoa` seh` dknoao pd]p ]na _da]lan pk ^qu ]j` ^appan oqepa` pk pda pann]ej*
Ej pda >qbb]hk oa_pkn( pda Cna]p H]gao lnaoajpo _d]hhajcao bkn i]neja l]pnkho* Pk ^a ]^ha pk `a]h abba_perahu sepd pda atpnaia _kh` ]j` pda pna]_danu kb pda h]gao( ]cajpo na_aera pn]ejejc ej ]`r]j_a` oa]i]jodel( _kh`)s]pan + = ?>L >kn`an L]pnkh ]cajp _da_go ]j ]^]j`kja` dkia ]hkjc pda Q*O*+?]j]`e]j ^kn`an bkn oqnrer]h ]j` e_a nao_qa pa_djemqao* oecjo kb laklha qoejc pdai ]o odahpan sdeha _nkooejc pda ^kn`an ehhac]hhu*
Frontline+OLNEJC .,,4 -3 Defen the surprising
18 ★ DEFENDING THE THIRD BORDER ★ Photo by Gerald L. Nino Nino L. Gerald by Photo Defending the surprising ‘third border’
When most people think of the Caribbean, they think more of palm trees, white pristine beaches, and drinks with little umbrellas in them than they do of illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Although we hear of it with little frequency, the Caribbean is a critical component of border security and an area that presents unique vulnerabilities. By Linda Kane
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 19 Established under the Department of Mona Pass—an unlikely catalyst for cooperation operation, named Monkey Wrench, to Homeland Security umbrella, the Caribbean Mona Island is an uninhabited nature combat the situation. The surge operation Border Interagency Group (CBIG) is the preserve that belongs to Puerto Rico. Mona, called for sharing of intelligence and first formal multi-agency group working to often compared to the Galapagos, has no coordinating operations so that all resources protect America’s borders in the Caribbean. permanent inhabitants other than a few were used to maximum effect. This first CBIG was formed in July 2006, in response park personnel and the sea turtles, hermit operation was so successful at stemming the to a marked increase in illegal migrant crabs, birds and the giant Mona iguana. The flow of immigrant traffic across the Mona activity coming through the Mona Passage, island, with a long colorful history as a base Passage that a second, Monkey Wrench a 37-mile strait between the Dominican for pirate raids and for hiding pirate booty, II, was planned and executed in October Republic’s island of Hispaniola and Mona today beckons smugglers, especially those 2006. The success of both surge operations Island. All of the CBIG organizations—CBP, smuggling Cuban immigrants. prompted the informal partners to establish a the United States Coast Guard, Immigration Mona is no one’s final destination, but more formal group and codify the process. and Customs Enforcement, and the United as United States territory, it is a shorter, States Attorney for Puerto Rico—had an if highly dangerous, route to America. Working together interest in stopping the illegal activity Cubans who reach any U.S. soil, including The premise of CBIG is that all partners focus transiting through the Mona Passage. All Mona’s shores, get a chance to remain in on a common goal and work together in a the CBIG members play a role in stopping the United States because of a policy known seamless enforcement operation that is much terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, as “wet foot/dry foot.” “Dry foot” Cubans like a relay race. Coordinating intelligence illegal migrants and illegal narcotics headed are considered refugees and get a chance to and use of resources is vital. All partners for the United States mainland. remain in the United States and later qualify participate in daily morning briefings sharing for legal permanent residence. Cubans intelligence. At these meetings, the partners An ever-changing threat intercepted at sea are “wet foot” and are establish the probability of yolas launching Geography, history, economics and culture immediately repatriated. based on weather and sea conditions. The of the Caribbean region make defending this Cubans who use the Dominican partners report on which boats and planes are area against the threat of illegal migration Republic as a smuggling channel head operational and where they will be deployed. and narcotic trafficking unique. for Mona Island. The process is no secret. For example, Coast Guard planes fly during Less than 50 miles from the tip of Smugglers obtain “letters of invitation” the day and then CBP takes the hand off and Florida, the Caribbean Islands are dots of for Cuban nationals to travel to Haiti or flies at night using sensor planes that are
“The illegal traffic had reached a point where it was posing a risk to society and we needed to take some sort of enforcement action. We needed new ideas and strategies to respond to the threat.” — Marcelino Borges, Director, Field Operations, San Juan.
tropical paradise that form natural stepping to the Dominican Republic. Paying fees equipped with radar and infrared systems stones linking the United States mainland ranging from $1,500 to $4,000 to one to maximize detection capability. and Central and South America. of the more than 100 known smugglers This maritime “third border” separates or smuggling organizations, a smuggler Obtaining prosecutions the United States from a host of small island arranges for transportation through the A problem that presented itself was that nations. However, not all of this border is Dominican Republic to one of several even when illegal aliens were apprehended, foreign. Two U.S. territories—Puerto Rico launching points. There, would-be crossers processed and cases brought before the U.S. and the U.S. Virgin Islands—are interspersed are packed into small wooden or fiberglass Attorney, they were frequently rejected for into the Caribbean archipelago. Providing boats called yolas to begin the trip across prosecution. The reasons were many, but security for these territories is complicated as the treacherous Mona Pass to Mona Island. often Coast Guard and CBP agents making they provide an enticing portal for access to From fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2006 interdictions did not have the necessary the North American mainland. there was a 48 percent increase and a 245 evidence for attorneys to make a solid case. Aided by proximity to the United percent increase from fiscal year 2004 in The solution to getting more States and to South American locations human smuggling traffic from Cuba. prosecutions was to develop a standard with established drug and crime syndicates, operating procedure for prosecution. With smuggling, in any of its forms—migrants, Designing a “monkey wrench” Coast Guard facilitating, all of the partners drugs, contraband—has emerged as an By March 2006, the illegal smuggling met and hammered out a template for industry in the Caribbean. “It is easy to focus situation had come to a head and the Ramey gathering evidence in a case and the steps on the other borders of the United States Border Patrol sector (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) leading to successful prosecution. “All the because you hear more about them. But in the requested a meeting on the western coast of players were interested in the interdiction of Caribbean there is a 360° threat,” says James Puerto Rico with other DHS components. migrants. Coast Guard would pick them up Tunstall, captain, San Juan Sector Coast Guard. Out of this meeting came a plan for a special and then just send them back. There was a lot
20 H defending t h e t h i R d b o r d e r H Photo by Gerald L. Nino Nino L. Gerald by Photo
“The illegal traffic had reached a point where it was posing a risk to society and we needed to take some sort of enforcement action. We needed new ideas and strategies to respond to the threat.” — Marcelino Borges, Director, Field Operations, San Juan. H Many illegal immigrants use small non-sea worthy boats to navigate across treacherous seas seeking illegal entry into the U.S.
of recidivism and that was demoralizing for at Sea,” was implemented in November because of coordinated intelligence and everyone. Before CBIG there was only one 2006. Coast Guard personnel take digital operations. With the Mona Passage being prosecution in the last year,” says Manuel photographs and collect two digital routinely patrolled and illicit activity at an Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge, fingerprints, one from each index finger of all-time low, smugglers are looking for new Immigration and Customs Enforcement. migrants at sea. During the first phase, the routes of entry. CBIG partners agree that The strategy was a resounding success. data was uploaded to a secure stand-alone statistics alone cannot measure the success laptop and compared to the a cached list of this program. “Success of this program is A winning team tests new concepts of known and suspected terrorists, felons, measured in intangibles like cooperation Another issue was the inability of the and previous deportees from Caribbean and camaraderie. Statistics and projections Coast Guard to identify illegal immigrants countries extracted from the Automated do support the success of the program intercepted at sea. There was no way to Biometric Identification System known but what makes the program work is that determine if a person intercepted was a as IDENT. In May, Phase II began with everyone has left their egos behind,” previous deportee or other immigration the installation of satellite technology on says Oyola-Torres. law violator, felon or a person on a several cutters. This gives the Coast Guard Activity in the Caribbean eastern terrorist watch list. Without the ability access to the entire 90 million fingerprints corridor through the Virgin Islands is to identify the people intercepted, there in the IDENT database. It takes about two increasing, and CBIG is ready. “Every was no action the Coast Guard could minutes to search the entire database and day is a success because we are working take other than to return the group. get a result to personnel aboard a cutter. as one, but we will never be finished Thinking outside the box, the Coast with this work,” says Ronald Ortiz, CBP Guard developed the concept to gather and The measure of success Caribbean Air Branch. “We have to remain analyze biometric information at sea. The What makes CBIG an effective enforcement flexible and adapt and expand to meet formal program, known as “Biometrics tool is its ability to adapt to the threat the threat.” ■
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 21 Our Partners ‘Down Under’
You can’t get much farther from the United States than Australia. But despite being on the opposite end of the earth, the land ‘down under’ is stepping up as one of this country’s closest post-9/11 allies. The two nations share a common language and sing similar tunes when it comes to global border and trade security. By Eric Blum
Coming off of the intense Asia- Closer than ever Pacific Economic Cooperative leaders Historically isolated, today’s Australia conference here in early September 2007, finds itself a magnet for immigration and the two countries find themselves united tourism from around the world, especially on a number of trade, security and political Asia and Indonesia. Roughly the size of fronts. Through its International Affairs and the U.S.’s 48 contiguous states, Australia Trade Relations office, CBP is cultivating also is quite similar with a vibrant this partnership and connecting the dots. economy, plentiful jobs, progressive “Australia, and its neighbor New policies and at-risk borders. Zealand, clearly are our most important National security, immigration partners in the Pacific region,” said Michael fraud, terrorism concerns, and protection Mullen, CBP’s Assistant Commissioner for of agricultural resources may sound International Affairs and Trade Relations. like a recitation of CBP missions, The two nations are quickly joining the but they are priorities Mullen heard United Kingdom and neighbors Canada from the Australians during visits to and Mexico as dependable U.S. allies in the Department of Immigration and anti-terror issues. Citizenship and the Australian Customs “They have very high standards when it Service. comes to trade security and border security, While their concerns are the same, comparable to ours,” Mullen said. “We have the challenge Australia faces is on a lots of room to continue to cooperate on smaller scale, screening 20 million these challenges.” passengers yearly compared to CBP’s Mullen traveled to Australia and New more than 400 million, which includes Zealand to explore these opportunities to land passage. Australia’s challenge is eased work together as well as to take part in significantly by the lack of a land border the APEC economic summit. During the to defend, but it is made infinitely more trip he met with Australia’s customs and challenging as Australian Customs also immigration officials, signed an agreement serves as its coast guard, patrolling huge for future participation in an APEC travel swaths of the Pacific Ocean encircling card program for frequent travelers in its coastline—nearly 6 million square the Pacific Rim and attended the New miles, including the frigid waters near Zealand-United States Partnership Forum. Antarctica. The Border Protection and continued on page 26 About APEC Australia conceptualized APEC in 1989. The 21 member economies now represent 40 percent of the world’s population, 56 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and 48 percent of global trade. Besides Australia and the U.S., other members include Peru, People’s Republic of China, Canada, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Chile, H F ireworks over Sydney Harbor in Australia marked the end to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative leaders conference. Heads of state of the 21 member economies, including President George W. Bush and Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. Condoleezza Rice, watched the display from the famous Sydney Opera House, right. At left is the Sydney Harbor Bridge decorated with the APEC conference logo.
22 H o u r p artners ‘do w n u n d e r ’ H Our Partners ‘Down Under’ Photo by Eric Blum Eric by Photo
H F ireworks over Sydney Harbor in Australia marked the end to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative leaders conference. Heads of state of the 21 member economies, including President George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, watched the display from the famous Sydney Opera House, right. At left is the Sydney Harbor Bridge decorated with the APEC conference logo.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 23 Photo by Eric Blum
H A n Australian Customs boat docked at a training facility at Sydney Harbor. Customs in Australia conducts border security missions similar to CBP plus patrols the vast waters surrounding its nation, similar to the U.S. Coast Guard.
24 H o u r p artners ‘do w n u n d e r ’ H Australian Customs’ Regulatory Philosophy How our partners see their role Down Under
Customs is a regulatory agency with a clear mandate to protect the Australian community from the illegal movement of goods and people across our border and to collect customs and other revenue.
We are involved in the management of international trade and aim to fulfill our role without impeding the flow of legitimate trade or travel.
We do this by adopting risk management techniques which rely on the provision of accurate and timely information.
When international traders and travelers are compliant with the laws and regulations administered by Customs, our intervention activity is minimized.
We therefore have a direct interest in improving the compliance levels of our clients and we are committed to fostering an environment where we work co- operatively with them to achieve this.
The nature of our operational work is governed by the behavior of our clients and the risks they or their cargo represent.
Our risk identification and analysis is continuous – pre- arrival, at arrival and post clearance – and our response is appropriate to the level of risk.
In order to make accurate risk judgments we continually monitor our business environment.
We carry out checks of documents and goods to verify compliance.
H A n Australian Customs boat docked at a training facility at Sydney Harbor. Customs in Australia conducts border security missions similar to CBP plus patrols the vast waters surrounding its nation, similar to the U.S. Coast Guard.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 25 “ They have very high standards when it comes to trade security and border security, comparable to ours.” —CBP assistant commissioner for international affairs and trade relations Michael Mullen P hoto by by hoto E ric ric B lum
H Between 1845 and 1990, Australian Customs was headquartered at this building across the street from the Sydney Harbor. Today the building has been converted to a busy library and features a model of downtown Sydney under a transparent floor (see across).
continued from page 22 Command Maritime Unit protects against terrorism, smuggling of individuals and drugs, illegal fishing, prohibited imports and even piracy. Despite the differences in operations, Australia has reached the same sobering conclusion CBP has: it only takes one. Thus the dedication to anti-terror and border protection in Australia has become a national issue on par with its emphasis in the United States. Australia’s customs and immigration officers are committed to taking all steps necessary to improve their capabilities, H R obert Correll, deputy secretary of the Australian Department of Immigration and learning from CBP’s experiences and Citizenship, right, discusses issues of mutual concern with Michael Mullen, left, CBP’s sharing their success stories. “We need assistant commissioner of international affairs and trade relations. Correll and Mullen a global approach to anti-terror issues,” signed an agreement on the U.S.’s intent to join the Business Travel Card arrangement for Mullen said. “We want to see anti-terror and frequent business travelers, an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative. trade security and facilitation standards rise internationally.”
26 H o u r p artners ‘do w n u n d e r ’ H Comparing notes With the goals largely the same, the question remains about how best to achieve them. The answer in broad terms is easy. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand are all committed to the roadmap spelled out in the World Customs Organization’s Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade. CBP was instrumental in creating many of the components of the framework. But the roadmap doesn’t point out all the bumps in the road. So Australian authorities would like to explore lessons learned from CBP’s frequent traveler programs, use-of-force protocols and training, streamlining participation in CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and administration of global watch lists. Mullen expressed CBP’s interest in comparing notes on Australian technology systems and pursuing details of a global trade exchange that has caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Security. During a visit to the nation’s capital of Canberra, he had candid, wide-ranging and cordial meetings with Bob Correll, deputy secretary of immigration and citizenship and Michael Carmody, executive director of Australian customs, as well as tours of their operations. It looked and sounded quite familiar. “If we do a side-by-side comparison of your operations and ours,” Mullen said to Carmody, “the differences are not extreme, largely due to adherence to the World Customs Organization standards.”
Looking through a single window Mullen’s visit with the customs and P immigration officials coincided with the by hoto E
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or ric B APEC, Leaders Week, a gathering of top lum officials from the 21 regional member economies. Mullen became the first CBP official invited to be a participant in the business summit meetings, designed to reach consensus on current and future initiatives to Next steps so it is not a trip taken on a whim. But improve international business for the region. One concrete result of the trip was CBP’s Australian Customs and Immigration both Climate change and production of signing on to an APEC travel initiative seem determined to see that their personnel clean and efficient energy, expansion of free that in the future would allow U.S. senior make the trip to further strengthen the trade opportunities, regional food safety business travelers and government officials bridge with CBP. assurance and fighting corporate corruption expedited international travel to the 17 current And CBP is just as committed were some of the issues tackled during the participating nations and economies. and has decided to appoint its newest week-long conference. CBP’s participation is in its early stages representative to Australia, specifically to While global warming issues got the as it weighs security mandates with the improve supply chain security, expand headlines, it was customs modernization and desire to facilitate frequent travelers. In cargo security awareness, expedite the flow streamlining as well as supply chain security recognition that the U.S. will not be able to of legitimate cargo and travelers and share that most summit participants wanted to talk accommodate all components of the APEC technological advancements. to Mullen about. travel card model, the organization has “These days there are no borders “APEC participants really push the deemed the U.S. as a “transitional member” as we have traditionally known them,” concept of greater harmonization of customs of the program. said Steve Patterson, director of operational operations, a single window into participating training and development for Australian countries, which would have real-time savings More to come Customs. “A breach anywhere is a breach and cost benefit for importers and exporters,” Finally, it takes nearly 24 hours in the air to everywhere.” ■ Mullen said. fly between Washington, D.C. and Canberra,
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 27 Q AWith Thomas S. Winkowski Tom Winkowski’s plate was full the day last August when he was appointed U.S. Customs and Border Protection Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations. The& list is familiar: Container Security Initiative, Secure Freight Initiative and then prospect of 100 percent container scanning at overseas ports, and the soon-to-be-published “security filing” or 10+2 regulations. And there are new challenges ahead. Before moving to Customs and Border Protection headquarters, Winkowski served as director of field operations in Miami, and at Los Angeles International Airport. He joined CBP in 1975. “I really believe we have a trust.”
Q. What direction will Field Ops take on your watch? ends up in Cincinnati because an importer redirects it in transit. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have diversions. That’s A. I think this is a very exciting time to be in Customs and how commerce works. How do we have better control and Border Protection, when you look at the size, scope and reconcile it at the end of the day is a challenge. I have a group magnitude of what we do. I see a number of things that working on ideas and proposals. When we’re ready, we’ll sit are very important. One of my priorities is to continue to down with the trade community and begin working them. At build on the relationship we already have with the trade the end of the day, you get a better product. community. That’s absolutely critical. We have to make sure we have the systems in place to deal with trade facilitation Q. In 2003, border inspectors with the Animal and Plant as well as enforcement because trade is important to our Health Inspection Service became part of CBP in the new economy as it is to others around the world. Department of Homeland Security. Since then, there have been reports of low morale among agricultural specialists, Q. A Government Accountability Office report said CBP which is one reason some members of Congress want needs to improve its tracking of in-bond shipments. What to return agriculture inspection to the Department of are you doing? Agriculture. Since the GAO report in January 2006, have conditions improved for the specialists? A. We’ve got to come up with a better way without standing in the way of commercial reality. I think we need to have A. I believe the merger was the right thing to do, but it was more connectivity between our in-bond system and our difficult. Mergers are tough. When the merger took place, Automated Commercial System and ACE. We’re dealing we realized how specialized agriculture was; we created with huge amounts of computer-generated paper documents. the agriculture specialist position. That was recognition We’ve got to get out of that mode. We need to look at by the agency that you needed a different skill-set in that diversions — freight that is supposed to go to Chicago particular area. We had more than 300 vacancies among
28 H Q& A w i t h t H o m a s S . W i n k o w s k i H “I really believe we have a trust.”
agriculture specialists. We had to bring them on and train Q. In recent years, CBP has had a good track record of them. Now they’re getting the experience. I believe they working with the trade, but there have been times in the belong in Customs and Border Protection. Before the past when the relationship has not been as cordial. Do you merger, we would examine a container, close it up and send sense any residual feelings that the trade doesn’t trust what it back to the container yard. Then the USDA would come CBP wants to do? in and pull the container and look for what they needed A. to look for. Now we can do all of these exams at once by I get just the direct opposite. I really believe we have a trust. integrated teams of agriculture specialists and CBP officers. At times, we may have differences, but my experience has Now CBP officers will find things and bring the agriculture been that we have been able to work them out. It may not specialist in. We didn’t have that kind of integration before have been fast enough for one side or the other, but the the merger. The same thing happens on the agriculture side; relationship with the trade community at the national and they find things that don’t relate to agriculture, but would local levels is very good. As I travel around the country, I interest CBP officers. do not get many complaints. I know the trade community is not shy. If they have an issue, they will raise it, and that’s Q. How do you respond to CBP critics who want to put important. But I think we’ve shown that we’re an inclusive APHIS inspections back in USDA’s jurisdiction? organization, that we really need their expertise. They bring a lot to the table for us. That relationship will continue. A. We need to do a better job of bringing the stakeholders into ■ By R.G. Edmonson this process, much like we did with the trade community: the different agriculture associations, the agriculture Reprinted from The Journal of Commerce, October 29, 2007 commissioners in the 50 states. We need to build a partnership www.joc.com ©Copyright The Journal of Commerce. All rights reserved. with them and make them more a part of what we’re doing. Published with copyright permission from The Journal of Commerce. http://www.joc.com/copyrights
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 29 CBP Partnerships are key to success, says Basham; along with intelligence, Vigilance integrity, will ensure agency’s future
Recently, CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham articulated his bringing in the expertise of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, thoughts on the significance of the agency’s founding. He stated: “We the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secret Service, and the all know that the threat that brought us together has not gone away,” Inspector General. he says. “We are still at war. And….CBP’s role in this war is to protect Particularly in CBP’s “serious business of protecting our the borders of America. It is a war we are engrossed in every day.” nation against all threats, including illegal aliens, drug trafficking Basham notes that CBP must fight terror even as the agency and other criminal enterprises operating across our borders,” says combats its “more traditional adversaries,” including drug and the Commissioner, “we must work together, as none of us can go human smugglers, bio- and agro-terrorists, importers of fraudulent it alone.” merchandise, and other purveyors of contraband. Partnering with DEA CBP, says the Commissioner, has been successful in fighting There are several examples of how CBP is partnering with others these adversaries in recent years. Nevertheless, he urges the agency to achieve the mission, states the Commissioner. For one thing, not to back off from future challenges, but to “dedicate ourselves with the agency is working with the Drug Enforcement Administration equal energy to the challenges that lie ahead in the next stage of our on a license plate project: DEA has provided information on all of development.” the suspected license plates used by drug smuggling organizations How will the agency do that? By focusing on “intelligence, to move money and drugs across the southwest border through integrity, and partnerships,” he says—“issues that I see as critical the ports of entry. CBP has put that information into its system, to our success.” which will enable the agency to better identify vehicles for further Intelligence inspection. The quantity and value of drug intelligence provided When it comes to intelligence, the Commissioner set the stage for recently by DEA is unprecedented, says the Commissioner. CBP transforming itself into a “fully integrated, intelligence-driven Partnering with the trade organization.” (By “intelligence” he means “any type of information, Further, CBP is continuing the work that Commissioner Bonner from any source, that can be analyzed and interpreted to help the initiated in working with the trade, notes the Commissioner. As part of operator in the field better do his or her job.”) He says that CBP must the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism initiative, industry be “better consumers of our own intelligence and that which is available works with CBP to protect the American economy against terrorism. to us from others,” as well as leverage its assets “to be good providers of The agency has even been working with its industry partners on a intelligence for the greater good of our country and our allies.” Basham business resumption plan to prepare for a potential incident that affects believes CBP must continue to partner with others outside the agency cross-border trade. to generate and use intelligence to the utmost capability. “Homeland security is a team sport,” he says. Partnering with Capitol Hill The Commissioner urges CBP’s leadership to think of the Integrity members of Congress and other policymakers from Washington With regard to integrity, the importance is obvious, says Basham: as partners in our mission—and of themselves as advocates “It is the core of our credibility and must be our guiding principle. and educators to those partners. Through tours and briefings, Without integrity…we are lost.” Basham notes that integrity is Congress can “see what resources are required, the diversity of the particularly important at CBP, because “we work in the highest landscape and our need for flexibility, rather than just sitting in threat environment for corruption in this country, perhaps the Washington guessing at the solutions.” world.” He adds, “Giving thousands of dollars to someone who has the power to literally wave them through a port…is nothing to our Why partnership makes sense adversaries.” Ultimately, the Commissioner says, partnership is a sensible way A focus on integrity also comes down to partnership, says the to operate the organization effectively and efficiently. “We must be Commissioner, as CBP is actively engaging a whole host of federal, smart in our approach to leveraging our resources,” he notes, for state, local, tribal, and international organizations to “cooperate in “no single agency, no matter how large or well-funded, can do this investigations by sharing information and resources,” for example, job alone.” ■ By Dannielle Blumenthal
30 H p a r t n e r s h i p H Vigilance
WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF OUR NATION’S BORDER A CBP Blackhawk swoops down on suspected illegal activity near the southwest border of the U.S. ourtellotte T . R
Photo by James www.cbp.gov
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 31 America’s legends protect America’s borders Spokane Sector Border Patrol launches “Project Noble Mustang” Photo by James Bunner Border Patrol agents James Perkins atop “Sisko” and Steve Kartchner atop “Hidalgo” on a trail near the U.S./Canada border in western Montana.
32 H a r o u n d T H E a g e n C Y H a r o u n d t h e a g e n c y
ontinuing the Border border is critical in areas like where vegetation and water prison inmates slowly mold Patrol’s proud tradition of the Glacier National Park could become scarce if too the once wild nature of the C using mounted patrols to where motorized vehicles are many animals used the area. horses into dependable and secure America’s borders, the prohibited and in protected These excess animals are loyal animals. Additionally, the Spokane sector Border Patrol areas such as the Pasayten and then offered for adoption inmates acquire a job skill they has deployed eight wild horses, Salmo Wilderness that lie in the to qualified individuals can use following their release adopted through the U.S. back country and are virtually through the Wild Horse & from prison. By entering into Bureau of Land Management’s inaccessible to contemporary Burro Program. In utilizing a this three-way partnership, the (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro modes of transportation. cost-saving resource already Spokane sector has seized the Program, to patrol a stretch of Wild horses are available, the Spokane sector opportunity to use an integral border that boasts some of the descendants of animals that Border Patrol eases the burden part of American history most rugged and remote terrain were released by, or escaped placed on BLM to search for to significantly expand our in all of North America. from, Spanish explorers, caring homes for the mustangs. enforcement efforts. Known for their strength, ranchers, miners, the U.S. Through a cooperative Editor’s note: In fiscal intelligence, endurance, and Cavalry, and American Indians. agreement established in year 2006, the Spokane sector sure-footedness, wild horses Equipping agents with these 1986 between BLM and the established a horse patrol meet the Spokane sector’s need mustangs will allow them Colorado Department of unit at each of its seven line for a durable animal physically to patrol the most isolated Corrections, these wild horses stations, becoming the only capable of working in terrain areas along the border with receive personal and extensive northern border sector to use that is characterized by an animal whose distinctive training as part of a unique horses for patrolling, and mountain ranges, designated anatomical features have inmate rehabilitative program the only Border Patrol sector wilderness areas, heavily enabled their survival for at the Canon City, Colorado with back country packing forested areas and national hundreds of years. Each year, Correctional Institution. capability. ■ By Danielle Suarez parks. Patrolling on horseback BLM gathers the excess wild Through daily exposure and in this region of the northern horses and burros from areas interaction with the horses, the Photo by SPA Danielle Suarez Danielle SPA by Photo
Joe McGraw of the Colville (WA) Border Patrol Station works with “Slash” in preparation for his deployment to patrol the border.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 33 CBP Air and Marine acquires helicopters for “We are honored border security mission to provide the largest law BP’s Office of Air and the assets necessary to meet with a multipayload electro- Marine recently added two emergent border threats,” said optical/infrared sensor laser enforcement C AgustaWestland AW139 Michael C. Kostelnik, Assistant designator combined with helicopters to its aircraft Commissioner, CBP Air and multimode weather radar and fleet, strengthening CBP’s Marine. “The AW139 medium- communication systems. air and marine ability to help secure and lift helicopters will strengthen “We are honored to protect the nation’s borders. Air and Marine’s ability to provide the largest law force with The acquisition of these transport law enforcement enforcement air and marine state-of-the-art multi-engine personnel and provide force with the AW139 the AW139 helicopters will enhance CBP surveillance in support of multi-mission helicopter,” Air and Marine capabilities homeland security operations said Stephen C. Moss, multi-mission to safely and reliably conduct in challenging environments.” chief executive officer of crucial border security The AW139, manufactured AgustaWestland North helicopter.” missions in selected areas of by AgustaWestland, is a America. “We look forward border operations. multi-mission helicopter to working with CBP to — Stephen C. Moss, “CBP Air and Marine’s capable of transporting up ensure these helicopters meet chief executive officer acquisition of these two aircraft to 12 passengers at speeds of operational and mission of AgustaWestland is part of an ongoing effort to over 160 knots with a range demands.” ■ By Juan Muñoz-Torres modernize and integrate the of over 570 nautical miles. North America CBP Air and Marine fleet with The AW139s are equipped Photo by Zachary Mann Zachary by Photo
H The multi-mission AW139 helicopter can transport up to 12 passengers at speeds of over 160 knots with a range of over 570 nautical miles.
34 H a r o u n d T H E a g e n C Y H a r o u n d t h e a g e n c y
CBP’s amazing canines discover hidden humans
ave you ever seen the stress. Others say that their show “How’d They Do instincts detect something that is H That?” The same can be not normal. However they do it, said for the average onlooker CBP canines trained in human watching a CBP canine’s ability detection use the same protocol to detect a concealed human. as those of disaster dogs. Disaster It can be a baffling capability dogs working in rubble are able to some, especially if one does to ignore fresh human scents, not understand how human such as dirty clothing, and visible detection works. searchers (other searchers in the Once trained in human rubble) and simply target people detection, canines are ready to that are concealed. This includes do what they do best, discover locating people in large open hidden illegal activity among areas, to include fields, deserts, those trying to enter the United rail yards, seaports, as well as States—whether in a field, vehicles and buildings. at a mock port of entry, on The first canines trained conveyances, freight, or in human detection for the in buildings. U.S. Border Patrol were three The post-9/11 environment Belgian Malinois and one brought about a major change Laekenois (a wiry-haired version in emphasis. Now, the primary of the Malinois), back in 1986. undertaking in securing our “Barco,” “Benno,” “Duko”
How do they do it? Some say they listen for additional heartbeats and/or scents of stress. Others say that their instincts detect something that is not normal. borders from illegal aliens is and “Rocky” blazed the trail to identify and stop would-be for what has become a very terrorists among the individuals successful program. The former crossing into the United States U.S. Customs Enforcement by car, or by other means such Program trained dogs for human as by railroad or concealed in detection and patrol work at the vessels arriving at our seaports. very creation of their program in This is not an easy task. 1970 at Lackland Air Force Base Humans are routinely smuggled in San Antonio, Tex. prior to into the United States by being moving to its present location in concealed in car trunks, hidden Front Royal, VA. in car seats and van panels, Today, this program trains wrapped around engines, and hundreds of canines in human stuffed in makeshift glove detection. The apprehension compartments. But amazingly, rate CBP-wide soars each year,
CBP canines are able to circle a making the technique as well Nino L. Gerald by Photo car with a driver and passenger as those canines trained in inside and alert to a human narcotics, explosives, currency, being concealed inside. and agriculture a remarkable How do they do it? Some success in aiding in the security say they listen for additional and safety of America’s borders. A CBP Border Patrol canine team searching freight trains for concealed humans. heartbeats and/or scents of ■ By Cassandra White
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 35 CBP employees risk lives for Iraq reconstruction
ollowing the outbreak Beginning in January 2005, policy reform at the headquarters entry on the Iranian border. of war in Iraq in 2003, CBP sent teams of personnel to level at the Ministry of Interior, Some Iranians were coming F the Department of a limited number of high-threat accompanied by continued back into Iran from a religious Defense requested that CBP land, sea and air ports of entry training and advisory assistance pilgrimage. There was one train Iraq Department of in Iraq to provide training and in a more structured manner,” Iranian young man who noticed Border Enforcement officers advisory assistance to Iraqi border says John Sullivan, Iraq program that we were Americans, and to perform customs and control officials. Additional teams manager, CBP Office of he shook our hands, was very immigration activities. It is friendly—we didn’t expect that.” a dangerous mission, but They also didn’t expect what hundreds of employees have “From Iraq I learned to never be came next: “He actually gave stepped up to the plate to Nick a hug and a kiss; we got a volunteer over the years. complacent.” picture of that.” The awful experience History —CBP Officer Manuel Gomez, Hidalgo/Pharr, Tex. involved a close brush with From late 2004 to early 2005, death. “From Iraq I learned to CBP teams trained more rotated through these locations International Affairs and never be complacent. One time, than 3,700 Iraqi border every 90 days until October 2006. Trade Relations. a couple of team members, enforcement officers in the At that time, with deteriorating In March 2007, CBP Andy (Althoff, a patrol agent in areas of border patrol, customs security conditions in Iraq, CBP responded to a request from charge from Pembina, N.D. and and immigration operations transitioned to a new model of General David Petraeus, who the group leader) and I were at the Jordanian International support. oversees all United States walking to the dining hall (in Police Training Center outside “The CBP deployment forces in Iraq, for additional the U.S. Embassy compound). Amman, Jordan. pattern now reflects a focus on resources to support border It was a week where we had control assistance efforts there. a lot of indirect fire. A rocket In response, beginning in July, landed close to us and two CBP is extending the temporary people lost their lives.” Gomez duty tours of CBP personnel and the others tried to keep from 90 to 180 days and the them alive until medical care number of personnel on site up could arrive, but it was too late. to 22 (from between 12 and 19). A unified team One of the most noteworthy Experiences aspects of this tour was the Recently, the Office of Public integration of CBP officers and Affairs had the opportunity to Border Patrol agents into a interview six CBP personnel unified team. Asked whether the who served in Iraq on the experience brought these officers January to April 2007 rotation. and agents together, the response They were asked about some was unanimously positive: It of their most memorable did, and it was “seamless,” says experiences overseas. Althoff. Not only that, but it really For CBP Officer Robert solidified their sense of agency Radtke (Alexandria Bay, NY), identity, say the team members. it was the sight of his partner’s terrified face as they crawled Vigilance is key lesson along the ground through an Each member of the team “exceptionally heavy rocket contributed something different attack, the rockets whistling in to Iraq, but they all seem to have and exploding, very close.” taken away the same lesson: CBP Officer Manuel Gomez vigilance. Radtke, who served as (Hidalgo/Pharr, Tex.) recalls a an advisor to the Iraqi border couple of experiences that stand forces, decided quickly that when out. One is good, the other he got back home, he would awful. Here’s the good one: “I “maintain a higher standard was working with (Border Patrol of vigilance, because you’d be Agent) Nick Harrison (Marfa, surprised at the things that can H War-damaged buildings in Baghdad. Tex.) at the Zurbatiya port of happen in a split second.”
36 H a r o u n d T H E a g e n C Y H a r o u n d t h e a g e n c y
H The twelve CBP employees who served in the January to April 2007 rotation to Iraq.
grateful for your presence “We are very grateful for your presence in Iraq and we feel good in Iraq and we feel good about your contributions to about your contributions to defending America abroad and on our defending America abroad and on our home shores.” home shores.” Then-Office of Field —CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham Operations Assistant Commissioner (now Deputy Commissioner) Jayson BORSTAR (Border Patrol attention to my surroundings Ceremony Ahern stated, “To those of Search, Trauma, and Rescue) because of the threats of IEDs In the summer at CBP you returning, thank you for Agent Albert Nevarez (Santa (improvised explosive devices), Headquarters, a formal send- returning home safely and Teresa, N. Mex.) served as an and indirect fire.” off/welcome-back ceremony thank you for your sacrifice. advisor/instructor in Iraq. He, The dangers of the was held for the next group Thanks to your families as too, came away with the lesson environment were especially of CBP volunteers headed for well. This is a very significant “to be more vigilant here in the clear to Harrison, who worked Iraq, and for those who recently contribution you have made.” U.S. You see the lengths they both at CPATT and the Iraqi returned. During the ceremony, Added Chief of the Border (insurgents) would go through Assistance Group, helping with CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Patrol David Aguilar: “We to sacrifice themselves for what policy development and border Basham presented the six CBP have tremendous pride in you. they believe in.” control operations. He made personnel who served on the It’s amazing to see the amount Garcia, who was assigned several trips to ports of entry January to April 2007 rotation to of people who stepped up to to the Civilian Police Assistance and border forts, and noted Iraq with an Achievement Medal serve with this mission. All I Training Team (CPATT) in how carefully the convoys for Civilian Service from the U.S. can say is thank you.” Baghdad, agrees, noting that prepared for each trip because Department of he Army. ■ By Dannielle Blumenthal in Iraq, he was “always on “that’s when you’d usually get Commissioner Basham heightened alert, always paying hit if you’re going to get hit.” told the group: “We are very
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 37 CBP Border Patrol encourages diversity in ranks
emale (and male) students It’s not necessarily easy for at colleges and universities “Over the next two years, we’d like to women to break into the nearly F across America are all-male culture, but they can do encouraged by the CBP Border see the numbers of women and African- it. When Herrera went from basic Patrol to consider a career at training to her first duty station, the agency. With the tagline: American, Asian-American, and Native she felt that most of the men were “Protect America…and secure cautious about working with a your future,” the agency’s new woman. After having worked recruitment poster emphasizes American Border Patrol agents rise with her, she says, “they treat me the strength and independence as an equal.” Villa says: “Everyone of individuals who choose this steeply.” treated me and my two other career. —CBP Special Assistant for Equal Employment (female) classmates with a great Why do women, in deal of respect.” particular, join the Border Opportunity Franklin C. Jones Williams’ perspective falls Patrol? Senior Patrol Agent somewhere in the middle: “At Melissa Herrera (Fabens, Tex.) our station we all faced the same says, “It’s something I’ve always “thought it sounded like an Patrol agents rise steeply,” says challenge of proving ourselves to wanted to do since I was a child.” exciting job with great potential.” CBP Special Assistant for Equal our new partners.” Agent Janet Villa, also in Fabens, Women can enjoy a Employment Opportunity Border Patrol Assistant adds, “I joined the Border rewarding career in the Border Franklin C. Jones. “Especially Chief Ramon Rivera comments Patrol because of the diversity Patrol, and CBP wants to get with our goal of hiring 6,000 new that all trainees are scrutinized of duties the Border Patrol has the word out. “Over the next Border Patrol agents by the end carefully by their peers—“not to offer, and because it is a very two years, we’d like to see the of 2008, it’s time to bring their because of gender, but because exciting job with great rewards.” numbers of women and African- representation up to the levels they are new and there is an Samantha Williams (Pembroke American, Asian-American, that we see in other federal law interest to see how well they can Pines, Fla.) joined because she and Native American Border enforcement agencies.” prove themselves.” Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo
H A Border Patrol agent searches a suspect for contraband and weapons prior to transport.
38 H i n f o C u s H i n f o C u s
And prove themselves they do. Women have a great deal of opportunity for advancement in the Border Patrol, says Herrera. Rivera adds, “As the Border Patrol grows in size, there is a great deal of opportunity for any applicant who is talented, hardworking, and driven to succeed.” What kind of person does it take to become a Border Patrol agent? “We’re looking for patriotic Americans who are adventurous go-getters,” says Jones. “And when it comes to women, the prospective candidate needs to realize that she can do anything a man can do, because the physical fitness requirements in the Border Patrol are the same for women as for men.” For her part, Williams believes that, at least in basic training, women “definitely have to work harder and be more aggressive than most of us would naturally be.” Further, she says, women have to think more carefully than men about risk; they “especially need to be…smarter about the physical situations they put themselves in because we are very often at a size disadvantage.” Nevertheless, she says, the tools of enforcement—handcuffs, pepper spray, baton and firearm—“are great equalizers…and we are trained to use them all just as the men are.” Villa feels that she worked harder in basic training than average, but “only because I Muñoz Steve by Photo wanted to prove to the guys that I can do whatever they can do.” The best thing about basic training, say agents, is the lifelong friendships that one H A Border Patrol agent scans the horizon looking for border incursions. forms there, as well as the sense of achievement gained from the experience. Williams describes response driver’s training. terrorists and other criminals by CBP—prevent human and her satisfaction with “the There is no career quite from entering the United States drug smuggling. friendships I made that continue like that of a Border Patrol agent, outside the formal crossing Plus, the income potential to this day and the sense of says CBP National Recruitment points into this country.” is very good, says Abbott. “Not accomplishing something that Director Joe Abbott. “It’s the Among other activities, only do agents earn a starting was truly challenging.” She also only profession in the nation agents in this occupation— salary of between $35,000 and especially enjoyed emergency specifically aimed at preventing considered “mission-critical” $45,000 per year, but they are
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 39 Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo
H A Border Patrol agent performs a check on a vehicle. eligible for up to an additional Herrera is more watchful of The list of requirements training, it really does become 25 percent of basic salary each the gender factor; she says that to initially qualify to become your life.” year in overtime pay. That’s great women should “be aware of how a Border Patrol agent is short: Women and minorities who money in the Southwest (where they conduct themselves during The organization is looking for join the Border Patrol ranks now, all agents are initially stationed).” training and in the field.” U.S. citizens under the age of notes Jones, have an opportunity Asked to give her advice Williams disagrees; she 40 with a valid driver’s license. to serve as pioneers for others to women considering a career says that whether men treat her A bachelor’s degree is optional: who may be considering a in the Border Patrol, Villa as an equal “really depends on Border Patrol agents can pursue career in the agency but are adds, “I would say that if this the individual personalities” their education while serving, daunted from applying. “It’s not is something they can see and how well she meets the and many have completed their necessarily the easiest thing in themselves doing, then they requirements of the job. “If you degree while working full-time. the world to be the only woman should do their best and not show that you’re a hard worker, Border Patrol Agent or African-American person in give up on their goals.” But that you are willing to jump Wendi S. Lee, located near your academy class,” he says, then again, she says, gender has in and help out your partner, the Southwest border in San “but it’s worth it. You are doing nothing to do with it: “Actually, whether he’s doing paperwork Diego, Calif., adds that the something good for the country this is the same advice I gave or getting somebody on the Border Patrol is an organization and you are paving the way for to my younger brother, who is ground and into handcuffs, with intense camaraderie and others who want to follow in currently in the Border Patrol and you don’t have any glaring loyalty—very rewarding for your path.” Academy. Completing the personality defects that make you people who want to be part of For more information about academy and graduating all unbearable to tolerate for more a strong team. “It’s an intense becoming a Border Patrol agent, depends on a persons drive to than eight hours at a time, you environment,” says Lee. “Very visit www.borderpatrol.gov. excel and achieve goals, not what will find that most agents will be much like a family. After two ■ By Dannielle Blumenthal sex they are.” happy to work with you.” years of academy and on-the-job
40 H i n f o C u s H i n f o C u s
Keeping it real A success story CBP’s Fraudulent Document Analysis Unit removes false travel Analysis of documents documents from circulation received from southern land border ports showed or terrorists, travel identifies specific trends in foreign government agencies documents are as im- fraudulent document usage, in the prevention of fraudulent a peculiar pattern. F portant as weapons.” completes statistical analyses document use. The FDAU Often, FDAU staff would “That single sentence in on document use, and provides works closely with these discover three travel the 9/11 Commission Report documents for training entities to gather intelligence, is the entire rationale behind purposes. The FDAU conducts train officers, and disseminate documents—usually CBP’s Fraudulent Document link analysis, which refers to information to the field. seized on different days, Analysis Unit: to remove from analyzing previous cases of These activities are critical circulation all false travel document fraud and looking to CBP’s ability to interdict often at different ports documents encountered at for details these cases have terrorists attempting to travel of entry—with different ports of entry, to include in common. These common to the United States, as well biographical information, international mail and courier details, or links, are used to as individuals and networks facilities, and forward them to a target improperly documented involved in human smuggling but the same photograph. single location for analysis. passengers on inbound flights. and trafficking. Coordinating with local Prior to September 11, The FDAU then develops In order to provide the intelligence units, fraudulent documents seized tactical intelligence—to most up-to-date intelligence to at U.S. ports of entry were not include strategic targeting the field, the FDAU produces analysts discovered that being gathered in one place on a global scale—which has monthly bulletins, targeting trend it is standard practice for for review. Often, fraudulent been successful in intercepting reports, country trend reports, alien smugglers in Mexico documents were being returned inadmissible travelers both and periodic intelligence reports. to airline staff (and to travelers!) before and upon arrival in the America is safer because to give their clients three to facilitate the inadmissible United States. of the activities of the FDAU. tries to enter the United traveler’s return to their port Sending all seized With the changing faces of of embarkation. Some of these documents to one place provides terrorist groups, individuals States. Providing up to returned documents were then the FDAU analysts a broad from both high-risk and non- three different fraudulent encountered again. view of smuggling activity and high-risk countries traveling documents bearing their In response to these the ability to seek links to more with fraudulent documents pose findings, CBP’s Office of Field effectively target smuggling a constant threat. In today’s photograph, smugglers Operations established the organizations in a proactive environment, the ability to escort their clients FDAU in January 2005. In manner. effectively screen, examine, through land border September 2006, the FDAU In addition, it is the mission and authenticate travel reached a permanent staff of 11, of the FDAU to support DHS documents is critical to the ports of entry, to try to and in May 2007, relocated to a and other United States and security of America. ■ Amanda L. Riley ensure successful entry new state-of-the-art complex to the United States. in Virginia. The mission of the FDAU Because of the vigilance is to receive and analyze the of CBP officers stationed fraudulent travel documents intercepted by CBP officers at southern land border worldwide. The goal is to ports, these individuals identify, target for, gather and are being apprehended, analyze intelligence from, and prevent the use of fraudulent and their documents are travel documents for attempted being sent to the FDAU entry into the United States. As for continued analysis. of June 2007, the FDAU received and analyzed more than 90,000 fraudulent travel documents seized at the ports of entry. From the fraudulent documents received, the FDAU develops document bulletins,
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 41 Touring the CBP Advanced Training Center
he CBP Advanced Training it useful for routine classroom ATC we now have today. On and the weapons of terror; from Center (ATC) is an training, offsite meetings, August 30, 2005, the ATC was ruthless drug dealers; and from T emerging facility, designed and conferences. Owned and officially opened by Senator all others who would violate to serve the specialized needs operated by the Office of Byrd, CBP and members of our customs and immigration of CBP. Located in Harpers Training and Development, the Harpers Ferry Community laws.” The Senator’s vision Ferry, W.Va, the ATC provides the center provides firearms with a ribbon cutting ceremony and focus have proven to be a learning environment that and intermediate force training, and celebration. At that time, significant to the success of emulates the CBP operating and advanced training to Senator Byrd commented that CBP, as the agency continues environment. The ATC CBP employees throughout “training offered at the Harpers to add unprecedented numbers complex includes facilities the agency. Ferry Advanced Training of uniformed personnel to its that are identical to the land, Center will ensure that Customs ranks. CBP wasted little time sea, and air ports of entry, as Background and Border Protection and other in taking advantage of its new well as open areas and water In 2000, U.S. Senator Robert law enforcement personnel are facility; in August 2005, the features found along the border C. Byrd secured $24.9M in trained in the proper use of ATC graduated two advanced between the ports of entry. The federal appropriations to lethal force and various other training classes for the CBP ATC also has large, modern establish and operate an in- means to protect themselves, officer corps and since that time, classrooms, meeting rooms and service firearms training facility their colleagues, and the thousands of students have the standard features that make that eventually became the American public from terrorists taken training at the facility. And Senator Byrd has helped prepare the ATC to handle this growth by winning approval for $60M in additional construction funding under CBP’s master plan for the campus. The ATC is a reflection of CBP itself; its staff and its curriculum are representative of CBP’s component organizations and functions. The ATC instructor core consists of experienced uniform law enforcement officers from the Office of Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as professionals from CBP’s other components. Trainees from every part of the organization attend ATC classes, and the facility provides an environment conducive to creating and reinforcing a unified workforce.
Facility The ATC is located in picturesque West Virginia near the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, covering 105 acres. Currently, the facility offers four different scenario- based training environments, Photo by Rob Cooper Rob by Photo which include an airport venue for simulating an arrival and departure terminal; a customs warehouse, including a hotel/ motel environment; a land CBP officers and other law enforcement personnel are trained to use lethal force.T wo officers spar as trainers look on. border venue that simulates
42 H i n f o C u s H i n f o C u s
border-crossing checkpoints; and a marine environment with a pond and floating dock that is much like the rivers, lakes, canals and open water that make up so much of the border. All of these environments are fully equipped with video equipment that allows instructors to immediately play back student scenarios and provide feedback on the sessions. The video equipment also allows instructors to edit the scenario footage for use as training aids during classroom lectures. In addition to the scenario- based environments, the campus contains an armory, Cooper Rob by Photo administrative building, and tactical training center building. The administrative building consists of multiple conference rooms with video conferencing A simulated land port of entry, where CBP officers train for real encounters. capabilities, an auditorium for larger audiences, computer lab, fitness centers, and classrooms. The ATC is located in picturesque West Virginia near the The tactical training center building has additional Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, covering 105 acres. classrooms as well as three large, fully padded tactics training Currently, the facility offers four different scenario-based rooms. These conference rooms and training rooms are ideal for training environments. standard classroom training, offsite team meetings, seminars, and table-top exercises. indoor/outdoor firing range that will support CBP’s mission agencies’ practical exercises, This year, CBP will begin complex. When completed, CBP to secure the nation, protect its and speaking at local schools construction of a warehouse students will be able to access five citizens and facilitate legitimate and community events. facility and complete the different ranges designed for rifles trade and travel. Some of the local agencies design of CBP’s Leadership and handguns. This complex, due involved in this outreach Academy complex that will to be completed by April 2008, will Outreach efforts program include the Eastern be able to train the more than also include additional classrooms, In addition to its work with Panhandle Federal Executives 600 new supervisors CBP weapon cleaning areas, and firing other law enforcement agencies Association, Jefferson County adds to its ranks each year. range control rooms. at the Federal level, the ATC Chiefs of Police, Jefferson These supervisors will now CBP plans to make the staff actively reaches out to County Office of Homeland be able to attend training in a ATC a self-supporting, full state and local law enforcement Security Counterterrorism and location easily accessible to CBP service facility and future phases agencies in an effort to learn Partnership Committees, and Headquarters in Washington, of development will include and share best practices local community organizations DC. This will allow speakers a dormitory, dining hall, and and increase the knowledge and schools. The outreach from CBP Headquarters to possibly a conference center. base for all. These outreach program is instrumental attend this critical management Thanks to Senator efforts take many different in helping the ATC create training. Byrd’s understanding of and forms including sponsoring a positive presence in the There are many exciting commitment to the mission of guest speaker lectures at Harpers Ferry community. changes coming up at ATC in the CBP and the ATC, the ATC the facility, observing other ■ By Joan Speake-Ponow and Lisa Kuzma future. One of the most eagerly will continue to develop as a agencies’ training programs, anticipated is the completion of an completely unique complex participating in other
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 43 Ready for any and all situations CBP’s Incident Management Division prepares to confront emergencies
he CBP Incident to develop the Incident Recent events predictive models indicated Management Division, part Management Coordination Of particular and most recent that Brownsville, Tex. may lay T of the Office of Intelligence Directive. That directive is interest, Hurricane Dean was directly in harm’s way. Taking and Operations Coordination, now the foundation of CBP born as a tropical wave just west the lead for the Department, was originally established in headquarters-level incident of the Cape Verde Islands off FEMA stood up the National 2006. Its purpose then was to management. the coast of Africa. While many Resource Coordination Center prepare for the hurricane season The core of the Incident tropical waves develop each year, in Washington, D.C. and the and develop a coordinated Management team is comprised very few last long enough under Regional Coordination Center incident management strategy of senior Border Patrol agents the right weather conditions in Denton, Tex. FEMA also for all of CBP. Today, its and CBP officers. Additional to develop into a full-blown activated the emergency support responsibilities have expanded to managerial and tactical assets are hurricane. Members of the functions that would require address any and all emergency provided by the Offices of Field Incident Management Division federal support. These address preparedness activities that Operations, Border Patrol and were alerted to the existence of the post event needs of a given would affect CBP operations. Air and Marine. the tropical wave in a weather state or locality such as law The creation of the division advisory email message from enforcement, transportation, Getting coordinated also highlighted a need to the National Oceanic and search and rescue or Soon after the division was establish a cross-organizational, Atmospheric Administration communications support. formed, it became clear that Senior Executive Service-level nearly two weeks before final The Incident Management more formal coordination within management structure to landfall was made in Mexico as team coordinated with the CBP was needed. Therefore, address incidents affecting CBP’s Hurricane Dean. At this point Region 6 Lead Field Coordinator acting on lessons learned from employees, facilities and assets. Incident Management team to identify and deploy two previous incidents, exercises This regional structure effectively members initiated contacts with CBP managers to the Denton and elevations of the Homeland mirrors the Federal Emergency CBP lead field coordinators center to provide technical Security Advisory System, the Management Agency (FEMA) and staff as a matter of routine and operational guidance. An division coordinated across all geographical management situational awareness. additional two CBP managers operational components of CBP structure. CBP created 10 lead As the tropical wave quickly were deployed to the State of field coordinator and deputy escalated to a tropical storm Texas Operations Center and the positions from senior level and eventually Hurricane Dean, Joint Field Office in Austin, Tex. managers assigned to the Offices with catastrophic force winds Meanwhile, FEMA formally of Field Operations, Border exceeding 150 miles per hour, a provided a Mission Assignment Patrol and Air and Marine. series of emergency preparedness request for law enforcement activities were pursued by the “force protection” support for Incident Management team. As a 280 person search and rescue the storm tracked west, NOAA task force preparing to move into south Texas. The task force was assembling in Ft. Worth, and would require 20 law enforcement officers to ensure the security of the search and rescue efforts. (As many are aware from Hurricane Katrina, there were a variety of crimes to persons and looting which occurred during and after the storm.)
44 H i n f o C u s H i n f o C u s Photo by Al Siapno Al by Photo
H San Diego sector Border Patrol agents and county firemen look on as fire burns in theS an Miguel Ranch Community in Chula Vista.
The Incident Management and than again on mainland residents in this small town had as a terrorist attack on the team coordinated with the Mexico just south of Tuxpen, been accounted for. oil reserves in Alaska. Offices of Border Patrol and where it rapidly degenerated Further, our team serves Field Operations to obtain into a tropical storm. Other preparedness activities as the primary focal point Border Patrol Search, Trauma In addition, the Incident for this year’s TOPOFF & Rescue (BORSTAR), Border And it’s just not hurricanes either! Management Division is (Top Officials) National Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) Earlier in the year, a series of prepared to address any and Preparedness Exercise and Special Response Team tornadoes destroyed the city all emergency preparedness involving the simulated personnel, and facilitated their of Greensburg, Kan. The activities that would impact detonation of a radioactive deployment to Ft. Worth and governor of Kansas on touring CBP’s operations. dispersal device or “dirty connectivity with the FEMA the devastation immediately As part of this prepared- bomb” in three separate mission commander. after the storm requested ness effort, we are engaged venues (Guam; Portland, An additional 75 CBP search and rescue assistance in the coordination and Ore.; and Phoenix, Ariz.) officers and agents were from FEMA. development of a variety of This emergency preparedness requested from the Office of Field While emergency teams preparedness exercises with exercise requires national, Operations and Office of Border were assembling in Nebraska, the Department of Homeland state and local coordination Patrol in preparation to deploy FEMA requested “force Security. efforts in order to address under an anticipated mission protection” law enforcement During this past year, public safety, the subsequent assignment for public safety support from CBP through a for example, the Incident criminal investigation and and security in several Texas formal mission assignment. Management Division has business resumption and jurisdictions. Within six hours of receipt coordinated with more than recovery activities for CBP CBP’s “Force Protection” and processing of the mission a dozen components within operations. team arrived in Ft. Worth on assignment, CBP launched CBP to address continuity As in all national Monday, Aug. 20, just 48 hours a combined team of a dozen of operations and government exercises, the goal is to before Hurricane Dean was BORSTAR and BORTAC as a response to the potential ensure that CBP’s capabilities estimated to make landfall. agents from El Paso to provide detonation of nuclear bombs and policies remain current And as we learned the security and assistance to in both Washington, D.C. and are readily understandable next day, Hurricane Dean the FEMA search and rescue and Indianapolis, Ind. We in order to provide for the deviated slightly from its teams arriving in Greensburg. coordinated the CBP response safety and security of our northwestern track and took The assignment lasted nearly to a simulated category five employees and facilitate the aim at Mexico, landing first a week and stood down once hurricane making landfall mission of our agency. on the Yucatan Peninsula FEMA was certain that all of the in New England, as well ■ By Chuck Huthmaker
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 45 Trusted traveler programs—the wave of the future
rusted traveler programs create a safer travel By registering travelers and conducting thorough background T environment by identifying low-risk travelers checks in advance of their travel, CBP is able to offer expedited in advance and expediting their clearance. This is immigration and customs clearance procedures, and thereby increasingly crucial for CBP as the flow of international travel focus government resources on higher risk travelers. increases and the agency’s operational and physical infrastructure capacities are stretched. The role of Traveler’s Rapid Inspection government entity, they are several feet away at a reader trusted traveler programs is (SENTRI) for travel across the generally denied entry into that is placed in front of the significant as the United States U.S./Mexico land border. the program. CBP booth.) The file number implements new document The United States and Once an applicant passes corresponds to a database file requirements for travel within the government of Canada the first level of review, they that includes a photograph the Western Hemisphere. have partnered on the are invited to an enrollment of the traveler and is stored In the mid to late 1990’s, NEXUS and FAST programs center where they will be in the CBP secure internal CBP developed several so that applicants must be interviewed by a CBP officer, network. It is queued up for international trusted traveler approved by both countries. and if applicable, a CBSA the CBP officer to review a few programs for frequent, Program participants receive officer. At the center, the moments before the traveler low-risk travelers between expedited processing into applicant will have their arrives for inspection. the United States and its Canada through either of these identity/travel documentation Because these travelers two neighboring countries programs. As of January 2007, validated, their picture taken, are pre-screened and can be of Canada and Mexico. the U.S. government approved and their biometrics collected. readily identified by a CBP By registering travelers the NEXUS card in lieu of a officer upon arrival, their and conducting thorough passport for United States and processing can be expedited: background checks in advance Canadian citizens traveling Generally inspections in of their travel, CBP is able to by air between the U.S. and the trusted traveler lane last offer expedited immigration Canada. only six to eight seconds as and customs clearance The Canada Border opposed to 20-30 seconds in procedures, and thereby focus Services Agency and CBP a normal lane. The trusted government resources on have developed a process to traveler programs also offer higher-risk travelers. share a single application, dedicated and exclusive single fee collection, and lanes for members to use, joint enrollment centers to All applicants must submit thereby offering even more offer efficient processing of electronic fingerprints to efficient processing. All of applications by both countries be queried against criminal the major U.S. land border for prospective applicants. and immigration databases. crossings on the Mexico Applicants using the NEXUS Applying air program will also have The application process for their iris captured in order to trusted traveler programs is use the NEXUS air kiosk. twofold. First, travelers submit a written application that Faster inspections contains their name, date of Each participant in birth, address, employment, the program is issued a and Canada borders have Currently, CBP has more and vehicle information. membership card embedded dedicated lanes for the trusted than 320,000 travelers enrolled This information is queried with a radio frequency traveler programs. Expansion in three trusted traveler against customs, immigration, identification chip. The passive will continue to additional programs: NEXUS for travel criminal, intelligence, and RFID chip—no power source locations. between the U.S. and Canada terrorist databases to make necessary—does not contain (whether by air, land or sea); sure that applicants can any personal information. Streamlined processing Free and Secure Trade (FAST) demonstrate clear compliance Rather, it contains only a To efficiently manage enrollment for commercial truck drivers with laws and regulations. If unique file number that is read processing, CBP has developed crossing both the Mexico and an applicant has any criminal on crossing the land border a Global Enrollment System Canada land borders; and the record, past violations, or from Mexico or Canada. that processes and stores the Secure Electronic Network for is under investigation by a (The cards can be read from application data for participants.
46 H i n f o C u s H i n f o C u s Photo by Gerald L. Nino L. Gerald by Photo
The GES database has allowed Mich., can also use the NEXUS year, the online application The future CBP to network all of the program thousands of miles will also process electronic fee In addition to the NEXUS programs into a single trusted away in Vancouver, Canada just collection, and be expanded to program, CBP is also traveler system, and is vital to the by filing a single application and the NEXUS program. developing a trusted traveler electronic integration between going through a single enrollment program for international air the U.S. and Canada. process. Speeding up the process passengers for travel outside When the trusted traveler CBP has also recently Automation of the application of the U.S. and Canada. The programs were first developed, developed an Internet-based process for trusted travelers program will be based upon they were based upon standalone application for the SENTRI has allowed CBP to process fingerprint biometrics and a self-service kiosk for routine Currently, CBP has more than 320,000 travelers immigration, customs, and agriculture processing. There are also plans to enrolled in trusted traveler programs. expand this program outside of North America with nations databases, manual processing of program. Applicants can now applications more efficiently that have similar programs. applications, and re-keying of data sign into a secure web site, and accurately. The prevalent Several European and Asian several times. GES has allowed and send their application backlogs that used to accompany countries have expressed data to be entered a single time, data electronically to CBP. the paper-based process for interest in developing joint shared electronically between Approval notifications are also trusted traveler programs in trusted traveler initiatives the U.S. and Canada. This has done electronically, as well busier locations no longer exist. with the United States. allowed CBP to “recognize” a as appointment scheduling Applications are now approved ■ By John Wagner trusted traveler participant at any at the enrollment center for in a matter of weeks, instead of CBP location. The result is that interviewing. Applicants can months. CBP will continue to a NEXUS member who enrolled also check the status of their refine this process to allow for at the land border in Detroit, application online. Later this even greater efficiency.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 47 Doing business with CBP in a new age
Need caption Photo by Robert B. Cole B. Robert by Photo
Riding the waves of change: ACE expansion means that truck carriers will have the ability to maintain their own ACE accounts.
lobal business is increasingly global trade community with the expansion of ACE accounts and revenue capabilities conducted with the point do business. account-based processing, CBP will occur in phases. While G of a mouse and the tap of ACE is the commercial will simplify its operations, there are immediate benefits a fingertip. The business world trade processing system being re-evaluate business needs, for the trade community, the has been marching steadily developed to facilitate legitimate and reduce or eliminate initial capabilities primarily toward a paperless environment trade while strengthening redundant requirements which lay the foundation for future for decades. Now, U.S. Customs border security. It is one of the will significantly decrease the features that will redefine and and Border Protection is on the largest information technology amount of paper required. increasingly automate the way move toward greater efficiency, initiatives taking place in the Millions of pages of paper and CBP conducts business. For increased automation, and an U.S. government today. ACE is the time and expense it takes example, initial capabilities account-based approach to quickly becoming an integral to process and store that paper allow for the electronic storage government that promises to part of business life, and will could be eliminated, providing of licenses, permits, and facilitate trade while enhancing eventually be the primary trade substantial savings and increased certificates within ACE. Future the security of the global supply processing system used by CBP. efficiency for CBP, the trade enhancements will build chain. New entry summary, community, and participating on this new capability, accounts and revenue capabilities Greater efficiency government agencies. ultimately automating the added to the Automated Currently, 30-50 percent of process of checking an import Commercial Environment will CBP entries require paper. Timing against an existing license — mark the beginning of a dramatic Through the consolidation The expansion of ACE to resulting in a less manual, more change in the way CBP and the and integration that will come include entry summary, paperless process.
48 H t o t h e t r a d e H T o t h e t r a d e
Self-maintenance of accounts agencies by providing a single, C-TPAT strengthens The first phase of capabilities centralized, on-line access also sets the stage for greater point for communications and account-based processing information. The Automated ability to manage by expanding ACE access to Broker Interface option will virtually every entity doing remain for filers. Brokers can supply chain: survey business with CBP. Part of this view and update their CBP expansion includes providing data directly through ACE. For truck carriers the ability to example, with this delivery of ustoms-Trade Partnership reducing disruptions to their maintain their own ACE capabilities, brokers with ACE Against Terrorism supply chains and having a accounts. With the truck driver’s portal accounts will be able to file C members remain firmly direct link with CBP,” said information already in ACE, their triennial status report with committed to the program, C-TPAT Director Bradd companies who file electronic CBP online, eliminating the time according to the results of Skinner. “We will carefully manifests for shipments driven it takes to submit and process a survey conducted by the consider these findings in an by that carrier will be able to paper forms. University of Virginia. Under effort to make the program pull up information from the C-TPAT, members sign an even better.” driver’s account and use it No more multiple IDs agreement to work with The survey was provided to pre-populate the required Under phase one, ACE users Customs and Border Protection to all 6,000 C-TPAT certified driver information fields on no longer need to maintain to protect the supply chain, members and designed so that the manifest. Pre-populating multiple user identification identify security gaps and this information eliminates the numbers and passwords to access implement specific security need to manually re-enter that multiple ACE accounts. This is measures and best practices. driver’s data for each manifest — a huge benefit for brokers, who The survey was conducted More than half resulting in fewer opportunities previously had to log out of ACE, at the request of CBP to gather for mistakes, and potentially then log back in with a different the impressions of C-TPAT (56%) of the decreasing the amount of user ID and password in order partners regarding the value, time that driver spends at the to move between client’s ACE benefits and costs associated members indicated border. Truck carriers may accounts. ACE users will also with membership in the also assign account creation gain cross-account access that program. that C-TPAT and maintenance to a service will allow the account owner Significant findings provider, broker, or importer. and account owner designees to revealed the following: benefits either view the entire account structure, • The vast majority (81.3%) of Data maintenance online and view relationships between members indicated that their outweighed the Another immediate benefit is subsidiaries. Users can also run ability to assess and manage the ability for ACE account reports that focus on the overall supply chain risk had been costs or were about holders to maintain their CBP import performance of the strengthened as a result of data online, without the use account or on a segment of joining C-TPAT. of paper forms. Importers and that account. the same. brokers can use ACE to file With this initial phase of • More than half (56.8%) of and update the information capabilities available in ACE, the the members indicated that required of them in order to do stage is set. As CBP continues to C-TPAT benefits either business with CBP. Importers expand ACE and build on these outweighed the costs or were responses could be provided can submit and update their initial capabilities, the days of about the same. anonymously. More than 1,700 companies participated; of importer identification record moving and storing tons of paper • The minimum security those, more than half were U.S. (the CBP form 5106) online via will give way to a new age. criteria were generally importers. the ACE Secure Data Portal, a For more information, viewed as very or somewhat ■ By Dannielle Blumenthal customized, secure Web site for visit http://www.cbp.gov/ easy to implement across the authorized users that connects modernization, or e-mail CBP. various sectors. CBP, the trade community, [email protected]. ■ By Louis Samenfink and participating government “It is clear that members consider C-TPAT valuable on several levels, including
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 49 A g r i c u l t u r e a C t i o n s
First-ever Harlequin beetle captured in Port of Miami
BP Officer Carlos Rochas was clearing the vessel C M/V Seaboard Victory, which had arrived at the Miami Seaport from Honduras, when he noticed a large beetle crawling around in the hold. Service The beetle was taken to a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab where scientists there identified it as Acrocinus Longimanus, more commonly known as the Giant Harlequin Beetle. They also verified that it was the first time the pest was intercepted in the United States since the USDA national data base came into being in 1984. If the beetle had entered the United States, it could Above: Acrocinus Longimanus, have presented a threat to commonly known as Harlequin agriculture. Although the beetle. feeding habits of the specific pest are poorly known, other long-horned beetles attack This beetle is considered United States and more than critical nature of the CBP mission and kill mango and cashew a serious pest. It is native to 80 percent of Florida mango to protect trade and commerce, trees by burrowing into Central and South America, from production occurs in Miami- including domestic agriculture,” trunks and branches, causing Mexico to the northern region of Dade County. said Harold E. Woodward, branch breakage, dieback and Argentina. Florida is the number “The interception of this director of field operations, eventually death. one producer of mangoes in the significant pest demonstrates the Miami Field Office. ■ By Elysa Cross Agriculture specialist stops fruit fly infestation Saves potentially billions of dollars for U.S. economy
ecently, Port Everglades CBP Agriculture Specialist The USDA estimates that losses attributed to exotic fruit flies R Linda Holse targeted a container of mangoes arriving becoming established in this country would be in the billions from Haiti for examination. During the exam, Holse of dollars. intercepted an exotic fruit fly in the shipment, which mangoes arriving from Haiti an exotic fruit fly infestation The USDA estimates that had been pre-cleared at a hot for examination and again in the United States. Prior to losses attributed to exotic fruit water treatment facility in intercepted fruit fly larvae on reporting in Port Everglades as flies becoming established in Haiti. As a result of Holse’s them. (This time, they had an agriculture specialist in 2005, this country would be in the interception, all mangoes from been treated at different hot she worked as a plant health, billions of dollars. Consumer that facility were rejected by water treatment facilities.) As protection and quarantine prices for fruits and vegetables the United States Department a direct result of her actions, (PPQ) technician in the USDA’s would increase and backyard of Agriculture until the all shipments of pre-cleared Fruit Fly Detection Program in garden crops would be affected. pre-clearance program staff mangoes from Haiti were Orlando, Fla. for seven years. Thanks to the swift actions of could conduct a thorough refused entry into the United There, she helped establish a Agriculture Specialist Holse, investigation into the incident. States for a period of time. high density trapping program such an infestation did not Several weeks later, Holse Holse is very familiar after a Mediterranean fruit fly occur. ■ By Jose LaTorre and Jacquelyn again targeted containers of with the detrimental effect of outbreak in Florida. Slater-Kanaley
50 H A g r i c u l t u r e a c t i o n s H ServiceWE ARE AMERICA’S FRONTLINE A CBP Laboratory technician uses ultraviolet light to reveal things invisible to the naked eye. ourtellotte T . R
Photo by James www.cbp.gov
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 51 Police, and the Federal Aviation Administration, Hamze had Officers beat the clock been intercepted and arrested Teamwork, speed lead to arrest of dragging death suspect to await extradition back to Ft. Lauderdale. The fast-acting law enforcement team had successfully prevented Hamze’s departure, and officers at JFK had taken Hamze off the plane. Within an hour of this news, local media and Internet news providers were lauding the quick thinking and quick action. “The whole experience was just a normal day at work, a great normal day,” Officer Watson said. “In less than five minutes we coordinated an effort to intercept a murderer 1,300 miles away. It’s days like this that remind me how much I love being a CBP officer,” she said after fellow employees commended her and Villanucci on a job well done. The Broward State Attorney’s Office filed second- degree murder charges against BP Officer Stephanie his departure and confront him CBP officers at JFK in an effort Hamze. In addition, Hamze Watson arrived for work about crashing into the car she to have Hamze stopped at the faces three additional counts of C June 5 at Ft. Lauderdale and her fiancé were riding in. gate. Meanwhile, Villanucci vehicular homicide, leaving the International Airport as she has Hall was subsequently hit contacted the Federal Aviation scene of an accident involving done for more than four years. and dragged, underneath the Administration and requested a death and leaving the scene of The office was abuzz processing minivan, along State Road 7 hold on any aircraft clearances an accident involving property ■ By Zachary Mann an 8.63-pound cocaine seizure. in Ft. Lauderdale, at speeds in for flights departing in the damage. Immigration and Customs excess of 70 miles per hour and immediate future. Watson also Enforcement Agent Dave for a distance of approximately called the JFK Port Authority Villanucci was in the passenger two miles. As result of this Police to request their analysis unit office on the phone incident, local police now assistance in apprehending with fellow ICE agent and liaison considered Hamze a serious Hamze. to the Broward County Sheriff’s threat to public safety. With all of the Office Loni Fogash, discussing a Villanucci explained that appropriate agencies recent vehicular homicide case detectives knew the driver of the contacted, Villanucci and that the local police department minivan to be Abdelaziz Hamze Watson were cautious was investigating. and they thought he might be yet encouraged about the When Watson walked in, trying to leave the country. possibility of reaching Villanucci ended his call and Villanucci asked Watson if she the plane and went back relayed the gruesome details would look for flight reservations to processing the cocaine of a horrific traffic incident Hamze might have made in an seizure. that Broward detectives were effort to leave the United States. investigating. The incident News Travels Fast resulted in the dragging death The Chase 4:20 p.m.: The phone calls of Sandra Hall of Ft. Lauderdale 4:14 p.m.: Watson found a began coming in. “Awesome two days earlier, June 3. reservation record for Hamze success” was the message. After a minor fender bender that placed him onboard a Delta Thanks to team work and in which a minivan crashed Airlines Flight 132 departing information sharing between into the rear of the Cadillac that from JFK Airport in New York, the Broward County Sheriff’s Hall was riding in, the driver of bound for Athens, Greece. The Office, U.S. Immigration the minivan, Abdelaziz Hamze, flight was scheduled to depart and Customs Enforcement, attempted to flee the scene. As from JFK in six minutes. U.S. Customs and Border Hamze fled, Hall stepped in front With the clock ticking, Protection, the New York/ of Hamze’s minivan to block Watson immediately called New Jersey Port Authority
52 H g r e a t w o r k H g r e a t W o r K The heart of a champion
atching CBP Officer Kevin Ansley working in the Anti- W Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at the Nogales, Ariz. port of entry, you’d never know that underneath his tough exterior beats the heart of a champion athlete. Ansley grew up in Live Oak, a small town in central Florida. Going to high school, he always thought he was fast, but never realized quite how fast. Then one memorable day in 1991, he surprised both the world of track and field and himself, by setting a state record in the 400 meter with a blinding 46.9 second finish. Ansley joined the National High School Track Club in Florida and soon became regarded as one of the top sprinters in the country. During this time it has been said that Ansley became a household name in Florida any time track and field came up in conversation. He later received a full scholarship to Florida State University for track and field. Once there, he was quickly elected team captain. One title sought by all college athletes is the title of All-American, a title Ansley earned three times. While attending FSU, he competed against some of the best athletes in the world, including U.S. Olympians Butch Reynolds, a gold medalist on the 1988 4x400 meter relay team and gold medalist Michael Johnson, putting him in a league with internationally renowned athletes. Ansley has represented CBP in the last four International Police and Fire Games, competing against athletes from various law enforcement and fire departments from all over the United States. Never losing a race, he’s competed in the 50 meter, 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter events, winning 40 gold medals. The Arizona
Police Athletic Foundation definitely Levin D. Brian by Photo knows who U.S. Customs and Border Protection is, thanks to Ansley’s performance. Ansley continues to train hard and hopes to represent CBP in national and international competitions. His dream H CBP Officer Kevin Ansley, a member of the Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at is to compete in the 2008 Olympics in the Nogales, Ariz. port of entry, is a multi-gold-medalist in track and field has represented China. ■ By Brian D. Levin CBP at the last four International Police and Fire Games.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 53 EPA honors CBP employees Operation Streamline innovator wins award ecently, the “EPA/Customs Initiative.” Environmental This initiative was started R Protection Agency some years ago between ecently, Special Operations held its Annual National EPA and the legacy U.S. Supervisor Philip N. Calk Honors Awards Ceremony Customs Service with the R was presented with an in the historic Warner purpose of improving “Excellence in Border Security Theater in Washington, D.C. the quality of regulatory Initiatives” award at the Global This EPA event honors the compliance and enforcement Border Security Conference in significant contributions of environmental laws for San Antonio, Tex. for developing and accomplishments made imported merchandise at the concept and implementation by the more than 17,000 our nation’s borders. This of Operation Streamline in the EPA employees across effort continued through the Del Rio sector that began in 2005. the country, including transition to CBP and is still Operation Streamline their headquarters offices more active than ever. The requires the building of in Washington, D.C., 10 CBP personnel were honored partnerships both within and Special Operations Supervisor regional offices, and more as part of a team effort which outside DHS to end “catch than a dozen specialized also included several EPA and release” and establish a Philip N. Calk. laboratories. employees from their major prosecutorial “zero tolerance The year’s ceremony operational entities. The EPA zone” for any undocumented Today, it has grown into a was especially noteworthy Silver Medal for Superior migrant that enters into the full-time sector initiative that since the EPA chose to Service was awarded to these United States illegally. This encompasses a total of 210 recognize four employees CBP employees: “zero tolerance zone” adds an border miles and has expanded of CBP as part of the • Michael Craig, Chief, additional layer of deterrence to include an area covering in Other Government to illegal entrants by criminally excess of 5,800 square miles. This initiative was Agency Branch, Office of convicting these individuals By the end of fiscal year 2006, International Trade for violations of laws. In Del Rio sector’s apprehensions other words, undocumented had decreased 37 percent from started some years • Howard Duchan, immigrants are charged with the previous year. Program Officer, Other illegal entry and prosecuted The successes of Operation ago between EPA Government Agency rather than simply being allowed Streamline continue. Fiscal Year Branch, Office of to return to Mexico. 2007 apprehensions decreased and the legacy U.S. International Trade Operation Streamline an additional 56 percent. All Customs Service • Cathy Sauceda, Director, involves a multitude of indicators seem to foretell that Special Enforcement entities within the Del Rio this decrease will be sustained. Division, Office of sector including: the Western Due to the effectiveness with the purpose International Trade District of Texas Judiciary; of the program in Del Rio, the U.S. Marshals Service; the the concept is being expanded of improving • Stephen Schorr, U.S. Attorney’s Office; the into other sectors. “Streamline Chief, Cargo Control CBP Office of Chief Counsel; worked because of the the quality Branch, Office of Immigration and Customs dedication of the people who Field Operations Enforcement, Deportation and are in the field. Day in and day of regulatory This particular award Removal Operations; and the out they step up to the challenge was presented to recognize Executive Office of Immigration and really deserve the credit compliance and the accomplishments Review. “Operation Streamline for making it work,” says Calk, achieved by this EPA/ is absolutely about good minimizing his role in the effort. enforcement of CBP team in both the partnership with other However, Philip Calk continues improvement of current departments, federal and local. to serve as the primary, driving environmental environmental compliance, It is about working together to force necessary to maintain the and for furtherance of EPA’s overcome whatever operational forward momentum achieved laws for imported goals for effective use of the obstacles stand in the way with Operation Streamline. For International Trade Data of getting the job done,” that, Calk is an outstanding merchandise at our System in concert with CBP’s says Calk. representative of the CBP Automated Commercial Initiated as a 90-day pilot Border Patrol. ■ By Dean Sinclair nation’s borders. Environment. ■ program in the Del Rio sector, Operation Streamline targeted an area of 4.93 border miles.
54 H frontline a w a r d s H f r o n t l i n e a w a r d s
Border Patrol agents earn bravery and heroism awards Photo by James L. Tourtellotte H Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Team members execute a difficult rescue in the extreme conditions of a Texas desert.
ix CBP Border Patrol individuals stalking them in gone missing after several Norton attempted to rescue Agents were recently total darkness. An individual hours while tracking a group the man by himself, but was S named Federal Law closed to within a few yards of of suspected illegal aliens in unsuccessful. Another agent Enforcement Officer the agents’ position and began the remote desert west of Ajo, responded to assist and Norton Association Bravery and yelling at them before firing Ariz. They found the missing was able to lean into the water to Heroism Award winners. a gun in their direction. The agent, who was severely pull the man to safety. Supervisory Border Patrol agents returned fire, killing dehydrated and suffering from “The actions of these Agents Jeremy Schappell and the gunman, who was later hypothermia, and quickly individuals embody what the Humberto Martinez, from the identified as a known administered life-saving first Border Patrol is all about,” Border Patrol’s Yuma sector, “border bandit.” aid before transporting him said Yuma sector’s Chief Patrol as well as Senior Patrol Agent Senior Patrol Agents to the hospital for additional Agent Paul Beeson. “We are Michael Nigro, from the William Hoekema and John treatment. first and foremost defenders of Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Adkisson, also from the Yuma Border Patrol Agent our nation’s borders, and we Valley sector, were recognized sector and part of the sector’s Michael Norton, also of the will make the tough choices for bravery stemming from a Border Patrol Search, Trauma Yuma sector, received an when ours or others’ lives are March 2006 encounter that left and Rescue (BORSTAR) Team, honorable mention for heroism placed in danger. But we are also a criminal illegal alien dead. were recognized for heroism for his actions stemming from human beings, and in some cases During the encounter, the stemming from a May 2006 a September 2006 encounter enforcement actions quickly three agents, who are part of incident in which their actions with an illegal alien who nearly become rescue operations, the Border Patrol’s national resulted in saving the life of a drowned in a canal. so we have to switch roles. Special Response Team, fellow agent. While conducting patrols I’m extremely proud of these were conducting a counter- Agents Hoekema and near San Luis, Ariz., Norton individuals for their displays bandit operation known as Adkisson responded to a heard someone yelling for help. of courage under difficult Brigand Snare when they faced request for assistance in He responded and located the conditions.” ■ By Albert Bosco imminent danger by several locating the agent, who had distressed man in the canal.
F r o n t l i n e H S P r i n g 2 0 0 8 55 i n r e m e m b r a n c e Photo by James Tourtellotte James by Photo
H An overhead view of Ground Zero at the World Trade Center in New York. CBP leaders, employees gather to remember 9/11
eptember 11, 2001—a day the new America: the challenge we will never forget. Six of global terrorism.” S years later, CBP employees, With the sound of bagpipes led by Deputy Commissioner in the distance, the audience Jayson Ahern, gathered to reflected on the significance of somberly reflect on the events 9/11. “It was important for me of that terrible day and to thank today to be with others,” said the heroes who put themselves Hilary Dawson, assistant to the in harm’s way to save the lives executive director of the Secure Csavossy Charles by Photo of others. Border Initiative, “and to be The ceremony was a joint reminded that the work we do effort with the Environmental daily at CBP honors those who Protection Agency, United perished and those who showed States Agency for International tremendous sacrifice through H CBP officers and agents pay tribute to fellow fallen employees Development, General Services their unselfish heroic actions.” Administration, Immigration In a letter to employees, during a Law Enforcement memorial service in Washington D.C. and Customs Enforcement, Commissioner Basham stated, the Federal Protection Service “The men and women of CBP and the Woodrow Wilson understand in a very personal way waterways, is a living memorial to continue to protect our borders International Center for that America is still very much a the victims of 9/11.” and work closely with our Scholars. target for the terrorists. And in Ahern urged employees partners to ensure we have done “Words fall short of many ways, the work we do every to remain vigilant against everything humanly possible to remembering that day,” said day in our airports and seaports, potential future attacks. “This protect America and American Ahern. “It is a day which now in desolate mountains and is the reality of our job every citizens,” he said. ■ By Dannielle defines the greatest challenge for deserts, in the skies and on our minute of every day…We Blumenthal
56 H I n r e m e m b r a n c e H IN MEMORIAM
H H H In honor of CBP employees who have died in the line of duty
James P. Epling 2003 Travis Attaway 2004 George DeBates 2004 Jeremy Wilson 2004 Nicholas D. Greenig 2006 David N. Webb 2006 Julio E. Baray 2007 Eric Cabral 2007 Richard Goldstein 2007 Ramon Nevarez, Jr. 2007 Robert Smith 2007 Clint B. Thrasher 2007 David J. Tourscher 2007 Luis A. Aguilar 2008 H H H rontline