GWOT: COSTA RICAN COLLECTION OF IDENTIFYING

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 002778 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR S/CT (FRED VOGEL),CA (ALCY FELICK) AND INR/I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KVPR CS SUBJECT: GWOT: COSTA RICAN COLLECTION OF IDENTIFYING PERSONAL INFORMATION REF: A. STATE 190832 ¶B. SAN JOSE 2054 ¶C. STATE 114021 (SBU) The following information is keyed to the questions in Ref A. Ref B was Post's September response to similar questions posed Ref C. ¶A. Immigration Databases --What computerized immigration databases are used to track entries and exits? Is the immigration database available at all ports of entry (POE)? If immigration databases are available at some POE but not all, how does the GOCR decide which POE will receive the tool? (U) Costa Rica has a computerized immigration database that tracks entries and exits. It is available at the two international airports and at the major land and sea POE. The GOCR prioritizes POE based on the volume of traffic. --What problems, if any, limit the effectiveness of the systems? For example, limited training, power brownouts, budgetary restraints, corruption, etc.? (SBU) All of the above with the exception of brownouts. Several immigration employees were dismissed last year for entering false data to assist a criminal suspect in creating an alibi. --How often are national immigration databases updated? (SBU) Due to a data-entry backlog, there is a three-month lag between entry/exit and the availability of the data. Immigration Director Mario Zamora told us on November 28 that he has secured 80,000 dollars to upgrade equipment at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose allowing processing of entries/exits in real time. ¶B. Watchlists and Information Sharing --Is there a name-based watchlist system used to screen travelers at POE? (U) Yes. --What domestic sources of information populate the name-based watchlist; i.e. names of deported persons, terrorist lookouts, criminal wants/warrants? (U) The watchlist contains the names of those under court order not to leave Costa Rica, those previously deported/extradited/expelled, refugees, and terrorist lookouts. --What international watchlists do host countries use for screening individuals, such as Interpol or TSA No Fly Lists, UN, etc.? (SBU) Costa Rica utilizes the Interpol and UN lists. Interpol data is held/checked by the Costa Rican Intelligence Service (DIS). Due to corruption concerns, Immigration does not have direct access. --What bilateral/multilateral watchlist agreements exist between host government and its neighbors? (U) None. ¶C. Biometrics --Are biometric systems in place at ports of entry (Air/Land/Sea)? If not, does the country have plans to install such a system? (SBU) No, and currently there are no plans to install a biometric system. --What biometric technologies, if any, does the country use; i.e. fingerprint identification, facial recognition, iris recognition, hand geometry, retinal identification, DNA-based identification, keystroke dynamics, gait analysis? Are the systems ICAO compliant? N/A --Does the host country issue a machine-readable passport containing biometric information? (SBU) The passport is machine-readable with a digitized photograph, but without biometric information. There are currently no plans to incorporate biometric features into the document. ¶D. Appropriate Partners (SBU) Post believes the GOCR would be an appropriate partner for data sharing based on the GOCR's current use of watchlists. We have no concerns that watchlists would be manipulated to include members of the political opposition or other dissidents. We have no indications the GOCR would share the data inappropriately. LANGDALE