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