DHS/STATE HOSTS REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMUGGLING AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000049 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/MEX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KCRM MX XM XS SUBJECT: DHS/STATE HOSTS REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS REF: MEXICO 199 GUADALAJAR 00000049 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. Summary: In January, DHS and State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) hosted a seminar within the framework of the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) in Manzanillo, Mexico. The workshop focused on best practices in the prosecution of human smugglers and traffickers in Central and North America. During the conference, joint U.S.-Mexico programs were lauded for several successful criminal prosecutions. In addition, the conference identified various trends across the region: 1) Smugglers and traffickers are increasingly relying on imposters with genuine documents to transport persons as documents are harder to counterfeit and border security has intensified; 2) Governments are applying improved biometric technology and real-time databases of information to catch habitual criminals; and 3) Immigration agencies are utilizing training programs so that they can better identify and provide proper assistance to victims. Participants pledged to follow up on conference initiatives, specifically with Mexico's offer to train other countries on cross-border investigations within the broader RCM framework. End Summary. U.S.-Mexico Joint Initiatives -------------- ¶2. Mexico's Deputy Attorney General (Subprocurador Jurmdico y de Asuntos Internacionales, Procuraduria General de la Republica), Mr. Jose Luis Santiago Vasconselos, opened the conference highlighting the success of the U.S.-Mexico border security program called OASISS (Operation Against Smugglers Initiative on Safety and Security). Since 2003, this program has dismantled organized crime and smuggling rings and increased protection of migrants from smugglers. Vasconselos emphasized the two-way cooperation and confidence needed to establish and foster this program. OASISS maintains a real-time database of information and is operational across nearly all border states except the Texas border with Tamaulipas (due to the Gulf Narcotics Cartel's presence there). Nearly 500 indictments have been handed down in Baja California, Sonora, and Chihuahua as a result of these joint investigations and increased judicial cooperation on both sides of the border. Given this success, Mexico offered to train other countries on how to implement a similar program. ¶3. Successful joint investigations have also occurred away from the border between ICE and Mexican authorities. Amembassy Mexico City's Acting ICE Attache Juan Estrada reviewed a number of successful cases involving the trafficking of women from Argentina and Hungary to Mexico, a minor Mexican child trafficked to South Carolina, and an internal Mexican trafficking case involving middle to upper class Mexicans involved in risque modeling. Recognizing Smuggling/Trafficking Victims -------------- ¶4. Due to Mexico's geography, the country is a transit point for many smuggling and trafficking victims, according to Mexico's Director of Migratory Control Mr. Alejandro Martinez Vera. Many trafficking victims come from China, Slovakia, Ecuador, Argentina, El Salvador, and Honduras. About 81% of these trafficking victims are forced into the sex trade, while 19% are forced into general labor. Mexico is working on both investigations of these crimes as well as victim assistance. In 2007, Mexico trained 300 employees from the Instituto de Migracion (Migration Institute) and 170 other government employees on recognizing and assisting trafficking victims. In November 2007, Mexico passed a law criminalizing trafficking of persons with sentences ranging from 6 to 18 years and entitling victims to recoup therapy, lost income, and transport costs (reftel). ¶5. Mr. Tim Kimpan from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police highlighted certain characteristics to look for when identifying smuggling and trafficking persons. He noted that holiday groups and sports teams are often used as covers to move large groups of people. Smuggled persons usually lack detailed knowledge of their trip, have limited funds, and carry too much or too little luggage. Trafficking victims usually have limited knowledge of their trip, do not have documentation, do not speak on their own behalf, have injuries/scars, have intimidated body language, suffer from malnutrition, purchased tickets in cash right before travel, and frequently move from location to location. Kimpan stated it is often difficult to identify these groups due to the mobility and adaptability of organized rings and lack of trust from victims. GUADALAJAR 00000049 002.2 OF 002 Recruitment Mechanisms for Trafficking -------------- ¶6. Most trafficking victims are lured into trouble with false promises of education, tourism, or romance according to DHS/ICE presenters. Creative stories are presented by organized groups who seek out victims through intermediaries such as travel agents and corrupt government officials. These intermediaries assist victims with visas and other documentation. Most of these victims end up forced into labor at exotic dance clubs, massage parlors, adult book stores, construction sites, or restaurants. Fraud and Biometric Trends -------------- ¶7. As fraud continues, governments are trying to implement biometric technology to combat this phenomenon. The United States has operated the US VISIT program since 2004, taking photos and fingerprints of about 100 million visitors to the United States annually. US VISIT has proven to be a valuable tool in identifying alien smugglers who use multiple identities. DHS realizes that they are failing to identify criminals due to the lack of U.S. exit controls, but are still evaluating the logistical implementation of such a program. U.S. officials stated that the overwhelming majority of fraud encountered involved imposters on real documents, as it is getting harder to alter documents and cross the border illegally. Some trends involve Chinese posing as Japanese, middle aged Asian individuals posing as elderly persons in wheelchairs, Brazilians using stolen Portuguese passports, Peruvians using altered Italian passports, and a variety of nationals using stolen Spanish passports. Many Iraqis are also being smuggled into the United States via Latin America and Mexico. Mexico noted that many valid Mexican passports are stolen and used by criminals, as the document itself is hard to alter or falsify. Honduras and other countries are working to improve the security of their passports, but many countries are still challenged at local level by civil registry lists of dubious validity. Conference Specifics -------------- ¶8. Amembassy Mexico City's U.S. Customs and Border Protection and State's PRM bureau jointly hosted the RCM workshop in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico from January 15-17, 2008. The conference theme focused on best practices in the prosecution of traffickers and migrant smugglers. This meeting was held to fulfill an RCM commitment under the 2007 USG Presidency under the theme, "Effective Cooperation in Combating Trafficking in Persons." Other topics not specifically mentioned included victim protection/services and public awareness campaigns. The conference organizers emphasized the need to take a comprehensive approach to investigations/prosecutions (e.g., from victims assistance to victims providing useful investigation information) and the need for follow-up on conference initiatives. About 40 participants from the following countries and organizations were in attendance: United States, Mexico, Canada, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, IOM (International Organization for Migration),UNHCR (Office of the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees) and UNODC (U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime). Honduras, as RCM President Pro-Tempore will host the next Vice-Ministerial meeting, with a theme of human rights and security, during which follow-up activities to this meeting will be considered. Comment -------------- ¶9. Given these recent smuggling and trafficking trends, Consular sections in Central and North America should be on the lookout for more potential intending emigrants and trafficking victims at visa and passport windows. Consular officers should be aware of how to identify these applicants as more of them seek legitimate travel documents to enter the United States, or attempt to impersonate legitimate document holders. ¶10. This cable was cleared by State/PRM and Amembassy Mexico City's DHS/CBP office. RAMOTOWSKI