Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1693
2007-12-11 08:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MALAYSIAN IMMIGRATION REQUESTS TRAINING VISIT TO U.S. PORTS

Tags:  PREL PHUM PREF CVIS KCRM KJUS MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKL #1693/01 3450843
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110843Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 4471
INFO RUEAIAO/HQ ICE IAO WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0352
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001693 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

SINGAPORE FOR ICE
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, G/TIP, PRM AND DS/ATA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF CVIS KCRM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN IMMIGRATION REQUESTS TRAINING VISIT TO U.S. PORTS
OF ENTRY AND DETENTION FACILITIES


-----------------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
-----------------------

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001693

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

SINGAPORE FOR ICE
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, G/TIP, PRM AND DS/ATA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF CVIS KCRM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN IMMIGRATION REQUESTS TRAINING VISIT TO U.S. PORTS
OF ENTRY AND DETENTION FACILITIES


--------------
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
--------------


1. (SBU) This is an action request for ICE Singapore to organize a
study visit to the U.S. for Malaysian Immigration officers, with a
focus on inspection, detention, removal, and deportation of illegal
immigrants; as well as trafficking in persons victim identification
and protection. Malaysian Immigration has requested USG assistance
in their capacity building efforts in this area, and this is a great
opportunity to cement our relationship with this important
government agency. End Summary.

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (SBU) The Malaysian Department of Immigration (DOI),housed in
the Ministry of Home Affairs, is a key player in several areas of
great interest to this mission, including refugee resettlement and
trafficking in persons (TIP). DOI practice in handling illegal
immigrants, refugees, and trafficking victims falls far short of
U.S. standards, but we sense a desire to improve among senior DOI
officials with whom we interact. The Embassy has worked hard to
increase cooperation with DOI, especially over the past year, with a
view to helping DOI raise its standards, and we have enjoyed some
success. Seeking closer cooperative ties to the U.S., and DOI
proposed earlier this year to conclude a MOU on cooperation in
immigration affairs. DOI has cooperated overall in Chin
resettlement processing, and recently allowed us access to Chin
refugees held in immigration detention centers. DOI has also been
communicative on the subject in trafficking in persons, and has
recently requested U.S. training in trafficking in persons,
especially victim identification and care. When it comes to several
sensitive cases of American citizens needing permission to enter or
leave in unusual circumstances, we have been able to intervene at
high enough levels to meet our needs. Immigration senior officers
and executives have asked Embassy staff and an ICE Representative
from Singapore for a study visit to a domestic ICE office. Malaysia

Immigration has indicated to Post that they would pay for up to ten
senior level officers from across the directorates within
Immigration to travel to the United States. Embassy believes that
such a program will strengthen out ties to the DOI, increase DOI's
receptivity to further cooperation, and, over the longer term,
improve DOI capacities. ICE Singapore is aware and supportive of
this request and is uniquely qualified to facilitate this kind of
visit.

--------------
PLEASE TRAIN US
--------------


3. (SBU) Throughout 2007, in our engagement with Immigration at all
levels, the drumbeat has been to get more training for its officers.
From the Home Affairs Deputy Secretary General (the number two
civil servant in the Ministry) to the head of the Immigration
Department, to his chiefs of Security and Passport, Immigration, to
the head officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, all have
asked for assistance in helping them defend their borders from
criminals. The requests are open ended, whether it is document
examination, passenger analysis, identifying victims of TIP, or port
of entry procedures. Our contacts have presented themselves as
sponges, ready to soak up anything we can offer. Immigration has
pressed us on several occasions to enter into a shared statement of
principles, a Memorandum of Understanding, to formalize this
cooperation.


4. (SBU) We have responded so far with several home grown courses
on U.S. documents, and have sent consular staff to the airport to
perform surprise passenger inspection, with the concurrence of
Immigration. Earlier this month four nations (the U.S., U.K.,
Canada and Australia, and including ICE Singapore participation)
held a one day course on document analysis for immigration
inspectors from four Malaysian international airports that was very
well received. We are gaining a good reputation as a training
authority, and seek other ways to develop the relationship.

--------------
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
--------------


5. (SBU) While Malaysia's border security systems have some very
impressive technological capabilities, senior Immigration officials
have expressed their frustration with the quality of information
that goes into them. Derogatory information from other government

offices, Interpol notices, and lists of lost/stolen foreign
passports are not there for the use of POE inspectors. They have no
access to Passenger Name Records (PNRs) that could alert them to
suspicious travelers en route. Immigration possesses no real
capability to perform secondary inspection. They have no effective
way to remove those who have overstayed their visas or arrived
without one. Their detention facilities are sorely lacking in
managing the large number of detainees who are in removal
proceedings. Recently, the government was forced to convert a
parking garage at the airport as a temporary housing and processing
site for foreigners being returned to their home countries.


6. (SBU) Malaysia's immigration problems are driven by its
relationship with Indonesia, and actually closely resemble our own.
Indonesia is a large, developing country with very porous land and
sea borders with Malaysia. Malaysia is a relatively more developed
country, with an economic pull to Indonesians to work in jobs such
as construction and agriculture that most Malaysians would not take.
There are legal and illegal ways to get this work. Within this
relationship, the Department of Immigration is looking to strengthen
its capabilities for detection, deterrence, and detention of those
found outside the legal working climate. Assistance we provide in
this arena will open up doors for us to advance our cooperation in
refugee processing, TIP prevention and TIP victim protection, as
well as increased capabilities in denying movement of alien
smugglers, suspected terrorists, and other transnational criminals.


--------------
PROPOSAL
--------------


7. (U) Immigration senior officers and executives have asked
Embassy staff and an ICE Representative from Singapore for a study
visit to a domestic ICE office. Specific topics requested include a
review of the structure of a domestic ICE office of Investigations,
fugitive apprehension operations, worksite enforcement, detention
and removal operations, and how the USG works with foreign missions
to repatriate or deport those inadmissible aliens. We also should
include topics related to trafficking in persons, including victim
identification and protection, and refugee protection.Malaysia
Immigration has indicated to Post that they would pay for up to ten
senior level officers from across the directorates within
Immigration to travel to the United States. ICE Singapore is aware
and supportive of this request. ICE Singapore is uniquely qualified
to facilitate this kind of visit.

--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------



8. (U) Post requests that ICE Attach Singapore develop an
all-encompassing itinerary, including topics of TIP and refugees,
for Malaysian Immigration officers to visit the United States. Post
requests that ICE Attach Singapore coordinate this visit with ICE
Office of International Affairs and relevant ICE domestic offices.
Post requests that an ICE Representative with an established
relationship with various GoM agencies to escort the GoM delegation.
Post understands that all costs incurred by the ICE Representative
will be paid for with ICE funding.


9. (U) This request has been coordinated with all relevant offices
within the Mission.

KEITH