Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NASSAU1117
2006-07-24 18:55:00
SECRET
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:  

C-NC6-00829: BAHAMAS IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT

Tags:  PINR PINS PTER CIVS KFRD BF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #1117/01 2051855
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 241855Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2932
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 1275
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5428
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3542
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8374
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3398
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4554
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2672
S E C R E T NASSAU 001117 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/I, WHA/CAR KJMCISAAC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2016
TAGS: PINR PINS PTER CIVS KFRD BF
SUBJECT: C-NC6-00829: BAHAMAS IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT

REF: STATE 114021

Classified By: Acting Political Chief Hugh Simon for Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)
S E C R E T NASSAU 001117

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/I, WHA/CAR KJMCISAAC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2016
TAGS: PINR PINS PTER CIVS KFRD BF
SUBJECT: C-NC6-00829: BAHAMAS IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT

REF: STATE 114021

Classified By: Acting Political Chief Hugh Simon for Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d)

1.(S/NF) SUMMARY: The Bahamas comprises more than 700
islands and cays in an area roughly the size of California,
policed by only 2500 law enforcement personnel backed by 1200
defense force members. While cooperative with US officials,
the Bahamian Immigration Service is poorly funded and
equipped. The major tourist ports of entry (POES) employ a
networked online database for air arrivals, but sea arrivals
and departures are only lightly scrutinized. CBP
pre-clearance facilities in Nassau and Freeport add a
significant layer of screening for air travel to the US. END
SUMMARY.


2. Below are detailed responses keyed to questions in reftel:


A. National Immigration Database

1) (S/NF) The Bahamian Immigration Service has its own
online database. Visitor data is entered upon arrival in the
Department of Immigration's system via passport swipe and
entry of data from immigration cards. The cards are
subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Tourism, which is
responsible for tracking visitor departures. A complete
tracking of visitor entry/departure information requires a
hand search of card files held by the Tourism Ministry as
well as Immigration. The Immigration database is available at
most international airport POES located on the larger islands
in the Bahamas, but not at seaport POES.

2) Problems:

- (S/NF) The Police, Immigration Service and Tourism
personnel have limited formal exchanges of information;
personal relationships allow operational information
exchange. There is no electronic interconnectivity. For
example, if the Special Branch of the Police, which tracks
terrorism, becomes involved in locating an individual,
Special Branch personnel must physically search the card
files of the Immigration and Tourism ministries.

- (S/NF) The Immigration Service and political officials
connected with immigration have been involved in the past in
immigrant smuggling to the US. The Immigration Service Chief

attempts to work effectively with a positive attitude.

- (C) Immigration Service personnel receive limited training.
The US has provided some airport security training to
Immigration personnel.

- (C) A limited and static Immigration Service budget is a
continuing constraint on operations and improvement.

- (S/NF) With only limited screening of visitors at the
smaller Bahamian ports and total lack of electronic
connectivity, controls are not effective. Once a sea-borne
visitor has checked into a Bahamian port on most islands,
departure and reentry are not monitored.

(S/NF) Database Updating: The Immigration Service's database
is updated with each new card entry on a daily basis. The
Tourism ministry's card file is 2-3 months behind on filing.


B. Watchlist and Information Sharing

1) (S/NF) No electronic watchlist is used for screening
visitors at POES. Physical lists are available in the
Immigration Service's offices at each staffed POE, for
Immigration officials to peruse, but they are not available
at the stations visitors must pass while entering The
Bahamas. Screening depends upon an individual officer's
memory.

- (S/NF) The Special Police, who are US officials' primary
contact for terrorism watchlists do not routinely review the
Immigration database for suspects.

2) Domestic information:

- (S/NF) There is no domestic watchlist.
- (S/NF) The Police are the central custodian of domestic
criminal/terrorist information. They operate, however, with
limited information exchange from other agencies. For
example, the Foreign Ministry, to whom the US supplies
deportee lists, does not share this information with the
Police. (US officials provide copies to the Police.)

3) International lists:

- (C) The Interpol watchlist is handled by the Criminal
Detection Unit of the Bahamian Police Force.

- (S/NF) Domestic Bahamian airlines use US No-fly and other
lists via the DHS/CBP pre clearance facilities at Nassau and
Freeport airports. If a "hit" is received, the airline waits
for clearance from the US before clearing. Bahamian
authorities are in touch with the Embassy when this occurs.

4) (S/NF) Networking: There is networking among Immigration
posts via Internet at major POES.

5) (S/NF) Networking among agencies: There is no electronic
networking among agencies' systems. Each has its own system.

6) Access:

- (S/NF) For Immigration systems, all officers have access.

- (S/NF) For Police, the Special Branch officers have access
via Intranet, using security provisions for access levels.

7) Notification Procedures:

- (S/NF) If the CBP at the pre-clearance facilities
encounters a watchlisted individual, US procedures are
followed.

- (S/NF) If Bahamian agencies identify a watchlisted person,
the Police Special Branch is notified, who also contacts the
US Embassy. The Bahamian authorities hold the person while
the Embassy contacts the appropriate US agencies.

8) (S/NF) There are no bi-lateral agreements on these
subjects between The Bahamas and neighboring countries.

9) (S/NF) Automated checks: Nassau and Freeport airports
conduct automated checks on passenger lists for air arrivals.
There is no system for sea arrivals. Sea arrivals are
issued cards by the passenger line, which serve as
identification for departure.

10) (S/NF) Entry information is collected by the Immigration
Service from arrivals; the Tourism ministry gathers data from
departing visitors.


C. Biometrics

1) (S/NF) There are no biometric systems in place at ports of
entry or known plans to install such a system other than
development of an e-passport discussed in C-5 below.

2) ( S/NF) Biometric technologies: There are no biometric
technologies in use.

3) (S/NF) Monitoring biometric technologies: There is no
monitoring in place.

4) (S/NF) Populations: There is no monitoring of any
population.

5) (S/NF) Machine readable passport: Currently, The Bahamas
does not use a machine-readable passport, but one is
currently under development.
HARDT