Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05SANSALVADOR2942 | 2005-10-28 23:10:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy San Salvador |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN SALVADOR 002942 |
1. SUMMARY: Post persuaded two Salvadoran government organs with a limited history of mutual coordination, the National Civil Police (PNC) and the National Civil Registry (RNPN,) to cooperate on biometrics collection during a five- nation law enforcement operation against members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13. The experiment was a success, demonstrating that biometric fingerprinting technologies available to the two Salvadoran agencies and to USG organizations -- including the Department of State, DHS and the FBI -- are compatible. The fingerprinting experiment also demonstrated that continuing cooperation has the potential to strengthen El Salvador's anti-gang efforts and directly enhance US border security. End Summary. -------------------------- -------------------------- Convincing Two Salvadorans Agencies to Work Together -------------------------- -------------------------- 2. Two weeks prior to a jointly organized five-nation law enforcement operation on September 7 and 8 against members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, Post's LEGATT and Consular Fraud Prevention Manager (FPM) began working with the Anti- Gang Task Force of El Salvador's National Civil Police (PNC) and officials of the host government's National Civil Registry (RNPN) to optimize the success of the anti-gang sweep. The EMBOFFS concentrated on encouraging and facilitating cooperation between the two Salvadoran organizations which had no history of working together. Traditionally, the RNPN has had limited contact with the PNC, in part to protect from unauthorized disclosure the extensive personal data it holds on nearly all Salvadoran citizens. For its part, the PNC has seen little reason to seek closer relations with the civilian RNPN. However, because the Consular Section has a lengthy experience of productive cooperation with both Salvadoran agencies, the FPM and LEGATT perceived that coordination between the Salvadoran agencies could increase the success of El Salvador's anti-gang efforts and potentially contribute improved border security for the United States. 3. The LEGATT and FPM focused on working with the PNC and RNPN because the PNC's Anti-Gang Task Force performs on the front line of the country's anti-gang efforts. However, the PNC has no adequately reliable method to confirm the true identities of the many gang members about which it has compiled information. The RNPN is ideally situated to compensate for this shortcoming because it manages an extensive data base that currently contains information on more than ninety percent of Salvadoran citizens over the age of 18. The RNPN data includes detailed biographic information, photographs, digital fingerprints of the two index fingers, and fingerprint cards for all ten fingers. The RNPN uses this data to issue El Salvador's national identification card (DUI), which is required to obtain a passport and to conduct routine transactions in all government institutions and private banks. 4. The LEGATT and FPM proposed that the RNPN make its equipment for taking biometric fingerprints available to the PNC and that the prints of arrested gang members be checked against the RNPN data base to confirm the identities of the arrestees. The PNC does not have equipment to take biometric fingerprints, and PNC officials responded enthusiastically to this proposal. RNPN officers were reluctant, saying they could not agree without Ministerial level approval. Consequently, on 2 September DCM Michael Butler raised the issue with Minister of Governance Rene Figueroa, who approved the pilot test. -------------------------- The Anti-Gang Sweep -------------------------- 5. On September 7 and 8 law enforcement agencies in the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras conducted a coordinated operation focused against the MS-13 gang. The anti-gang roundup involved more than 6,400 government agents from all five coordinating countries and resulted in approximately 660 arrests. More than 230 arrests were made in El Salvador. 6. The PNC took seven of the arrested gang members to a RNPN facility, where biometric fingerprints were taken of their index fingers. Using these biometric prints, the RNPN confirmed the identities of five of the seven individuals and recorded information on the remaining two, who had never been issued a DUI. The RNPN provided the results of the biometric printing and identity checks to the PNC via e- mail, and PNC officials forwarded this information to the Consular Section. In turn, the FPU electronically transferred the biometric prints and identity information to Consular Affairs, DHS, and FBI in the United States where the information was successfully entered into the law enforcement and IDENT data bases maintained by those organizations. -------------------------- What Does It Mean? -------------------------- 7. The pilot test conducted on September 7-8 produced several positive results. First, it demonstrated that the technology available to the RNPN and PNC are compatible for the transfer of biometric and identity data and that cooperation between the two agencies can strengthen El Salvador's anti-gang campaign. Second, and of equal significance to the U.S., the experiment demonstrated that Salvadoran and US technologies are compatible and that further cooperation between our two countries can contribute to the security of US borders. The seven biometrically fingerprinted gang members were entered into CLASS and IDENT as being potentially ineligible for reasons of gang activity (see ref authorization for ineligibility findings against active members of Salvadoran-based gangs). Should they apply in the future for visas, their identities and suspect gang associations will be revealed to adjudicating consular officers. Similarly, should any of the seven be detained by US law enforcement authorities while attempting to enter the US or for activities conducted in the US, information about them will be readily available in the DHS and FBI data bases. Additional success in a parallel consular-initiated program will be reported septel. -------------------------- Next Steps -------------------------- 8. Post will encourage continuing cooperation between the RNPN and PNC. While scrupulously complying with El Salvador's privacy right laws, this cooperation has the potential to contribute significantly to El Salvador's efforts to curtail gang violence and gang-related social disruption. Post also will continue to seek ways to expand anti-gang cooperation between El Salvador and the United States. The security of both our nations will benefit. Barclay |