August 14, 2006

SECURING THE NORTHERN BORDER

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) strengthens national security and upholds public safety by closing down homeland security vulnerabilities. Created in March 2003, ICE was tasked with closing down our nation’s vulnerabilities by targeting the people, money and materials that support terrorism and other criminal activities. ICE prioritizes its immigration enforcement actions by targeting the greatest national security and public safety threats—an approach not taken prior to 9/11.

LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
The U.S. and Canada are working closely together to share intelligence information and carry out joint law enforcement operations.

• Security and Prosperity Partnership: Through the Security and Prosperity Partnership, signed by President Bush, President Fox, and former Prime Minister Martin, we are working closely with Canada to build upon our successes. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico have agreed to strengthen information sharing related to terrorist and criminal elements.



• Carrying Out Joint Law Enforcement Operations: The Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) is a multiagency law enforcement team comprised of Canadian and U.S. agencies. More than a dozen IBETs have been created along the northern border since September 11, 2001. This team enables U.S. and Canadian law enforcement and intelligence agencies to work together with local, state, and provincial enforcement agencies to target cross-border criminal activity.
  
  
• Joint Exercises: Over the last year, the United States and Canada have completed joint law enforcement exercises on the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers and implemented a pilot project to share fingerprint information on refugee and asylum claimants. Three port security exercises have been completed to evaluate joint response capabilities along the Great Lakes. A total of 94 joint initial verification exams of vessels in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes were undertaken to ensure compliance with international safety regulations.

INCREASING MANPOWER AND ASSETS ALONG THE BORDER
Since September 11, 2001, the number of border patrol agents assigned to the northern border has increased dramatically.

• Tripling the Number of Border Patrol Agents and Doubling the Number of Inspectors: The number of agents along the northern border has almost tripled from 340 agents in 2001 to 980 agents today. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has also more than doubled the number of inspectors from 1,615 to 3,391. This increase in manpower improves CBP's ability to detect, apprehend, and deter illegal aliens, criminal elements, and terrorist threats along the border with Canada.
  
  
• Increasing the Number of Air and Marine Branches Along the Northern Border: Before September 11, 2001, there were no CBP Air and Marine branches along the northern border. Since that time, branches have opened in Bellingham , Wash. and Plattsburgh , N.Y. Preparations are underway to establish branches in Great Falls , Mont. by this summer and Detroit , Mich. , and Grand Forks , N.D. by the end of 2007.



• Thousands of Coast Guardsmen are Protecting the Border: Coast Guard districts in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes have 3,500 active duty military personnel, 19 cutters, and 38 small boat stations serving along northern border waterways.



• Deterring Illegal Crossings: Apprehensions along the northern border are down 19 percent compared to the same period last year—4,011 arrests this year compared to 4,935 arrests for the same time frame last year. This decrease can be attributed to the deterrence factor created by an increase in manpower and technology along the northern border.



• $2.5 Billion Has Been Provided In Grants To Northern Border States: Since September 11, 2001, northern border states have received more than $2.5 billion in homeland security grant funding.



• Tens of Millions of Visitors are Processed Each Year: Last year alone, CBP processed more than 79 million visitors along the northern border.



• On an Average Day: CBP intercepts more than 200 fraudulent documents, arrests more than sixty people at ports of entry, and refuses entry to hundreds of non-citizens on average each day.

HARNESSING CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
DHS is harnessing 21st century technology to increase the effectiveness of operations. The use of radiation detectors, sensors, cameras, and biometric information dramatically increase the likelihood of apprehending criminal or terrorist elements attempting to enter the U.S.

• Bringing Technology to Bear: Since 9/11, more than $122 million in technology has been deployed to the northern border, including $8.7 million in tactical communications, $60 million in Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM), and $40 million in other large-scale non-intrusive equipment. Future deployments will include $150 million for RPMs and large-scale non-intrusive equipment. In addition, $200 million has been spent to enhance the truck arrival and cargo entry processes along the northern border.



• US-VISIT at the Northern Border: The United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) utilizes biometric technology to verify identification. US-VISIT, which uses biometric technology to verify a person's identity, is currently in use at 115 land ports of entry along the northern border. Almost four million total visitors have been processed through the 154 land ports of entry with US-VISIT technology.

IMPLEMENTING THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE
DHS has been working closely with the Department of State to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This initiative will require travelers to present secure identity documentation when entering the United States . WHTI will ensure the free movement of people and cargo across the border while increasing the nation's security.

• Thousands of Different Types of Documents Can Currently Be Used at the Border: More than 8,000 different types of documentation are presented by travelers to CBP officers. Limiting the number and type of documents accepted will help inspectors zero in on the individuals who present the greatest threat to our country.



• 84,000 Apprehended With Fraudulent Documents: In Fiscal Year 2005, more than 84,000 individuals were apprehended at our ports of entry trying to cross the border with fraudulent claims of citizenship or documents.

CASE EXAMPLES

• United States and Canada announce results of Operation Frozen Timber, a multi-agency probe targeting cross-border aerial drug smuggling. “…a nearly two-year ICE-led enforcement effort called Operation Frozen Timber. ICE and the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) worked closely with agencies from both nations on the operation, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the National Parks Service, the Washington State Patrol, the United States Attorney's Offices in Seattle and Spokane, the DEA, the FBI, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sheriff's Departments of Whatcom, Skagit, and Okanogan Counties, and the Abbotsford Police Department. Since the investigation began in November 2004, the United States Attorneys' Offices in Seattle and Spokane have issued 45 indictments in connection with the case, resulting in more than 40 arrests so far. In Canada , the RCMP has made six related arrests. In total, U.S. and Canadian authorities have seized roughly 8,000 pounds of marijuana, 800 pounds of cocaine, three aircraft, and $1.5 million in U.S. currency…During the course of Operation Frozen Timber, U.S. and Canadian enforcement teams intercepted more than 17 drug loads, including one shipment in February 2005 involving five suitcases packed with 149 kilograms of cocaine that constituted the largest single cocaine seizure in the state of Washington last year…Another significant seizure in the case came in September 2005, when agents followed two courier vehicles to a Puyallup residence and recovered more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana.” (Press Release, 6/29/2006)



• U.S./Canadian Authorities Shut Down The First Ever Tunnel Found along Our Shared Border : “Federal agents have shut down an elaborate, 360-foot drug-smuggling tunnel dug underneath the U.S.-Canadian border—the first such passageway discovered along the nation's northern edge, officials said Thursday…The tunnel ran from a quonset hut on the Canadian side and ended under the living room of a home on the U.S. side, 300 feet from the border. Built with lumber, concrete and metal reinforcing bars, it was equipped with lights and ventilation, and ran underneath a highway.” (“Feds shut down drug-smuggling tunnel under U.S.-Canadian border”, Associated Press, 07/21/2005)



• U.S./Canadian Authorities Dismantle Major Human Smuggling Network : “Representatives from United States Attorney's Office , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol ended the far-reaching human smuggling network suspected of illegally bringing dozens of Indian and Pakistani nationals across the international border into Washington state… Infrared images captured by CBP Border Patrol surveillance cameras show some of the aliens aided by the ring being escorted across the border in a remote area of the state. Once they reached the United States , the smuggled aliens were often transported to area hotels, where they waited until the defendants arranged for outbound airline flights to cities throughout the United States . ‘This type of cooperative effort between Canadian and American law enforcement agencies demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our shared border remains closed to criminal activity,' said Chief Superintendent Bud Mercer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. ‘The RCMP looks forward to continued cooperation with our American partners to ensure the interests of both countries are respected and our borders remain secure.'” (Press Release, 4/12/2006).



• ICE Arrests Murder Suspect, Utilized US-VISIT Cross Referencing : “Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the land border port of Lewiston , N.Y., arrested a native of the Republic of Georgia who was wanted for murder in Germany . Cross referencing existing US-VISIT fingerprints with Interpol fingerprints revealed that the alias of a Canadian truck driver and frequent border crosser matched the suspect's, which resulted in the arrest of this dangerous fugitive.” (Press Release, 05/08/2005)



• U.S./Canadian Authorities Bolster Security for the Super Bowl : “U.S. agencies in Detroit and Canadian police officers in its sister city across the river charged with national security also are stepping up their defence in anticipation of Sunday's game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Extra security is being posted on the Ambassador Bridge , which connects the two cities, police divers are patrolling the Detroit River and Mounties have been authorized to make arrests on both sides of the border. Add in the possibility of fighter jets in the skies over Windsor and Detroit and you have super security for Super Bowl XL…On the U.S. side, the lead security agency is the Detroit Police Department, which is co-operating with U.S. organizations such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” (“ U.S. , Canada Mount Super Bowl Defense,” Edmonton Journal , 02/02/2006)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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