SECURITY EVALUATION OF REFUGEE PROCESSING SITE

UNCLAS AMMAN 006514 SIPDIS SENSITIVE CAIRO FOR REFCORD DEPT FOR PRM/A AND DS/IP/NEA DHS FOR BCIS ROME FOR DHS DISTRICT DIRECTOR ATHENS FOR DHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PREF SUBJECT: SECURITY EVALUATION OF REFUGEE PROCESSING SITE REF: A) CAIRO 3592 B) STATE 202708 C) AMMAN 5629 D) AMMAN 3980 Sensitive But Unclassified - Protect Accordingly ¶1. (U) In a follow-up to a survey conducted and reported in reftel D, the Regional Security Office revisited the UNHCR interview site to further determine the security suitability as an interview site for Iraqi refugees. This report seeks to expand on previously reported security information. ¶2. (SBU) While the threat environment in Jordan is categorized as serious (rated HIGH in all terrorist categories),there are no known specific threats (at this writing) targeting Americans or American facilities. Since the end of the Iraq war, there has been little street reaction to the situation in Iraq or West Bank/Gaza. The recent Israeli air strike into Syria barely registered a ripple on the street. However, the threat environment in Jordan requires close attention as past incidents have shown, and the Embassy continues to work closely with Jordanian security officials and strongly emphasize personal security measures. The latest warden messages in Jordan have been the worldwide announcements alerting Americans to be vigilant. There are currently no restrictions upon travel to or inside Jordan. ¶3. (SBU) The vulnerability of any office located outside the Embassy is the lack of set-back from the street. The interview site is located in a five-story residential structure with approximately 15 feet of set-back from the public street. It is located near the Embassy (approximately 3k) in an affluent area of Amman that receives substantial coverage by host country security. The site itself has a combination of police and uniformed guards. Post is unaware of any security incidents occurring at this site. At anytime Post personnel are working at this location, Embassy mobile patrols will be utilized to further augment the security and could respond within minutes of any incident. Embassy Surveillance Detection Units can as well be utilized. The nearest police station is five minutes away, and has approximately 100 officers assigned to it. The RSO will also alert host country security when official U.S. presence is required at the site, and request additional coverage. The Jordanians in the past have always responded positively to these types of requests. Aside from the lack of set-back, this site has no readily apparent security deficiencies. The internal security was covered in reftel D. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy personnel or visiting USG officials can easily be equipped with mobile communication to ensure quick response if a security situation arose. All visitors are required to receive a threat briefing from the RSO upon arrival. The site can also easily be evaluated just prior to the American officer's arrival. The Embassy has a 24-hour Marine Security Guard available to make appropriate security notifications for incidents outside the Embassy. The RSO has worked closely with refugee interviewers in the past to ensure security coverage at sites where interviews are taking place. RSO staff can also be contacted directly in the event of a security incident and can respond within minutes from residence or Embassy. ¶4. (SBU) There are no particular travel concerns with routes in and around the interview site. As a precaution, personnel are continually urged to vary their times of departure and routes taken. The RSO works very closely with the police and hotel security directors to ensure the safety of hotels. Hotels are inherently vulnerable and recognized worldwide as softer targets. Therefore the RSO makes every effort to elevate the coverage by host country security services at places such as hotels, tourist sites, and places of worship. ¶5. (U) If there are any areas not adequately covered in this report or reftel D, please contact Regional Security Office Amman. GNEHM