DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000511 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO DHS HQ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PBTS ASEC EAIR SMIG PARM PBTS IZ SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR CY 2006 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq (MNSTC-I) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Attache and Country Director have agreed to submit the following request for DHS specialists to assist the GOI in controlling its borders and ports of entry (POEs) for CY 2006. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Continued support of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mission in Iraq from DHS remains a critical component of the Iraq border enforcement initiative. There are 23 POEs -- 14 land (two of which are closed),five air, and four sea. There is also a General Directorate Headquarters located in Baghdad that requires training and staff support from DHS specialists. ¶3. (SBU) Two senior DHS leaders are working in the Embassy and, until recently, four 4-person teams (formerly known as Border Support Teams, or BSTs) from CBP were providing invaluable support at the following POEs: Trebil, Waleed, Rabea, and Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). These teams historically have rotated every 90 days. During the period from November 29, 2005, to January 6, 2006, there were 5 CBP team members who remained in Iraq, assigned to the BIAP, Trebil, Al Waleed, and Rabiah Ports of Entry. Full DHS CBP teams started the current 90-day rotations in early January 2006. -------------- CY 2006 REQUIREMENTS DEFINED -------------- ¶4. (SBU) LAND POE REQUIREMENTS: Three CBP teams, each comprising 4 specialists with skill sets that include primary/secondary customs and immigration inspections of vehicles and persons; examination and processing of commercial vehicles and cargo; and the collection of customs duties and fees. Additional border enforcement skill sets may be useful within the team, but should not preclude the primary skill sets requested. Each team should include a subject-matter expert in visas, passport control, and detecting fraudulent travel documents. These individuals will train, coach, and mentor POE personnel at POEs to facilitate the transfer of POE operations to complete Iraqi control. Teams will be assigned to specific border areas and work with Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I). ¶5. (SBU) AIR POE REQUIREMENTS: One CBP team composed of 2 specialists with experience in international airport operations, passenger processing, immigration and customs processing and inspections, cargo examination, and aircraft inspections. The team should include a subject matter expert in visas, passport control, and detecting fraudulent travel documents. These specialists will train Iraqi personnel in primary and secondary inspection techniques, to include interviewing skills and the use of databases to query suspected travelers at the international airports within Iraq. ¶6. (SBU) NATIONAL OR REGIONAL ACADEMIES: One 2-person CBP team assigned to an academy. The team will conduct train-the-trainer courses (T3) and provide oversight of Iraqi instructors and courses to include POE basic and advanced individual training and junior and mid-level leadership training. Additionally, the team will assist in curriculum development and course instruction for other critical POE tasks. The team will initially be assigned to the Basrah Academy. ¶7. (SBU) CPATT PLANNERS: One 2-person DHS team assigned to Civilian Police Assistance Training Teams (CPATT) Headquarters. The team requires extensive experience in working POE-related joint interagency operations. This team requires experience in port operations and management, policy development, identifying complex issues, developing solutions, BAGHDAD 00000511 002 OF 003 briefing recommended solutions to senior leaders, and implementing the senior leader decisions. The team requires expertise primarily in sea and land POEs. The team members will be expected to visit Iraqi ports of entry as required, and in conjunction with CPATT leader assessment visits. The team will assist in assessing the ports, developing plans for the port way ahead, and assisting in implementing the way ahead plans. The CBP team members may be expected to visit the Directorate of Border Enforcement (DBE) and POE Academies to assist in the development and implementation of instruction. ¶8. (SBU) COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS: To support unity of command, the CBP Teams will be ADCON to the DHS Country Director, and may be detailed out or assigned as OPCON to MNSTC-I and on order TACON to selected MNC-I Multinational Divisions (MND) for specific missions or time periods. The command relationship agreement will be defined in detail in a future MNSTC- I / DHS Memorandum of Understanding that is currently being staffed between the two commands. -------------- SPECIFIC CY 2006 REQUIREMENTS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Requirements for CY 2006: 18 total positions. Request DHS ensure total number of specialists in country remains constant at all times. A separate memorandum of understanding is being staffed at this time outlining specific tasks and command and control relations for the teams. In accordance with that MOD, teams could be re-missioned based on critical needs. For the January 2006 start point the teams will be staffed and positioned as specified below: -- 12 positions for land POEs: (three 4-person teams, one each TACON to MND-W and MND-N, to provide coverage to the Syrian, Jordanian, and Iranian borders in coordination with MND operations; and one TACON to MND-SE and, on order, MND-CS, to provide coverage to the Iranian border; -- 2 positions for air POEs: (one 2-person team to provide coverage at BIAP, with possible rotations to other international airports as necessary); -- 2 positions for academies: (one 2-person team to assist in program of instruction development and instruction at an academy, with possible future rotations to the other two Regional Academies as necessary); -- 2 positions for CPATT headquarters: (one 2-person team to provide POE expertise for land and sea POEs at CPATT HQ. This team will complete at a minimum a 120- day rotation). -------------- FUNDING -------------- ¶10. (SBU) MNSTC-I currently provides funding for 16 CBP positions covering the next two rotations: January 9 to April 9 and April 9 to July 9, 2006. MNSTC-I requires a detailed accounting of all expenses that are covered by the MNSTC-I funding no later than the end date of each 90-day rotation. Next rotation end date is April 9, 2006. The current funding provided to DHS includes the two additional positions in support of CPATT HQ which have yet to be filled. MNSTC-I understands that DHS will recruit these two individuals and deploy them to MNSTC-I as soon as possible. MNSTC-I does not provide funding for any DHS positions in support of the U.S. Embassy and its mission. -------------- FUTURE REQUIREMENTS -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The above are validated requirements for DHS support through June 2006. No later than March 10, MNSTC-I will determine if this initiative needs to BAGHDAD 00000511 003 OF 003 continue beyond June. If so, a subsequent DHS support and funding request will be provided at that time to continue the force rotation. -------------- DESIRED OUTCOME -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The desired outcome of this initiative is POEs that are "able to disrupt cross-border support to insurgents and terrorists with no support from coalition forces transition teams and enablers resulting in the reduced flow of foreign fighters and enemy financial resources crossing the Syrian border" (Annex C to MNSTC-I FRAGO 05-115). Meanwhile, POEs are internally synchronized with realistic administrative procedures, operating procedures that conform to the law, technology, adequate organizational structure, trained and equipped manpower, and modem facilities. A sustainable national training system is in place that supports the professionalism of POE management and leadership. -------------- CONCLUSION -------------- ¶13. (SBU) DHS personnel are valuable partners to MNF-I as the Iraqi government accomplishes the difficult tasks of refining customs and immigration laws, developing policies and procedures, and building capabilities in an undeveloped part of its government apparatus. KHALILZAD