RECENT GOG ACTIONS TO COMBAT ALIEN SMUGGLING

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001674

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SMIG CVIS PREL PGOV PINS PINR GT
SUBJECT: RECENT GOG ACTIONS TO COMBAT ALIEN SMUGGLING



1. (SBU) Summary: The GOG cooperated fully with us in the
expulsion through the US of alien smuggler Karla Chavez,
wanted by US law enforcement authorities in connection with
the May 13 death of 19 illegal aliens in Victoria, Texas.
Foreign Minister Gutierrez also informed the Ambassador that
the GOG was replacing a large number of Consuls believed to
be involved in inappropriate issuance of visas to intending
immigrants to the US, in response to complaints by the
Ambassador that new GOG visa regulations would favor alien
smuggling. End summary.


2. (SBU) On June 14, Guatemalan immigration authorities
expelled alleged alien smuggler Karla Chavez Joya to her
native Honduras, through Houston, where she was arrested by
US law enforcement authorities in connection with the deaths
of 19 illegal aliens in Victoria, Texas on May 13. Chavez is
believed to be the head of the smuggling ring responsible for
the incident in Victoria, Texas. The June 13-14 operation,
which resulted in Chavez's arrest by Guatemalan authorities
for an immigration violation and her subsequent expulsion to
Honduras via Houston, was carefully coordinated between the
DHS office in Embassy Guatemala and GOG Immigration Director
Oscar Contreras and his deputy Ramon Canek. Guatemalan
cooperation was critical to the success of this operation.


3. (SBU) On June 24, Foreign Minister Edgar Gutierrez
informed the Ambassador that the GOG had taken a number of
measures to address concerns raised earlier by the Ambassador
that new Guatemalan visa policy (i.e. increased flexibility
for issuing Guatemalan visas for nationals of certain Latin
American countries with high illegal immigration rates) could
result in increased transit through Guatemala of illegal
aliens heading to the US. Gutierrez told the Ambassador that
indeed the GOG believes that inappropriate issuance of
Guatemalan visas by a number of consuls had contributed to
this problem, and that as a result of an extensive
investigation, the MFA had decided to replace all of its
consular officials in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras,
Colombia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Gutierrez said
that the new consuls would be drawn exclusively from the
MFA's professional consular corps, and that they would
undergo training on immigration fraud before being sent to
their new posts.


4. (SBU) Comment: The recent GOG actions to combat alien
smuggling, responding to our specific requests, will create
further disincentives for alien smugglers to see Guatemala as
a country of safe passage.
HAMILTON