April 25, 2007

ICE expands document and benefit fraud task forces to six more cities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State and other agencies today announced the creation of task forces in six major U.S. cities to combat the growing problems of document fraud and immigration benefits fraud.

The new Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces will be located in Baltimore; Chicago; Miami; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Tampa, Fla. The new task forces build upon the success of document and benefit fraud task forces that have been operating in 11 major U.S. cities since April 2006. The task forces primarily target two types of crimes, document fraud and benefit fraud. These task forces have initiated 541 investigations, 350 indictments, 456 criminal arrests and 243 convictions.

Led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the task forces build on existing partnerships to bring together investigators from a variety of agencies with expertise in different aspects of document and benefit fraud. These agents partner with U.S. Attorney's Offices to formulate a comprehensive approach in targeting the criminal organizations behind these schemes as well as the beneficiaries of such fraud.

Participants in the task forces include ICE, The Department of Justice, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, State Department Office of Inspector General, State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies.

Document fraud refers to the manufacture, sale, or use of counterfeit identity documents - such as fake driver's licenses, birth certificates, Social Security Cards or passports - for immigration fraud or other criminal activity. Document fraud also involves efforts to obtain genuine identity documents through fraudulent means. These activities have helped illegal aliens, criminals and even terrorists evade detection and embed themselves in our society. Document fraud often supports the crime of benefit fraud.

Benefit fraud refers to the misrepresentation or omission of material fact on an application to obtain an immigration benefit one is not entitled to, such as U.S. citizenship, political asylum or a valid visa. Because these benefits give one the ability to freely enter, work or reside in this country, they are prized by illegal aliens, criminals and terrorists, who may be willing to pay substantial fees for them. As a result, the criminal organizations that help individuals fraudulently obtain immigration benefits reap enormous profits.

"ICE is committed to finding and prosecuting those individuals who seek to profit by stealing the identities of others," said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "These task forces demonstrate our resolve to identify and address the vulnerabilities exploited by those who would do us harm."

"The use of false and fraudulent documents to obtain immigration benefits is a threat to national security and undermines the integrity of our national immigration system," said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. "The coordinated interagency efforts of the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces will prevent future abuse and identify criminals who utilize and manufacture false documentation. USCIS stands ready to provide the necessary manpower and data streams to assist in this ongoing effort."

"The U.S. passport and visa are two of the most coveted travel documents in the world. Foreign nationals who have acquired these documents fraudulently to enter or claim benefits in the United States could perpetrate further illegal acts. Such crimes make the United States more vulnerable to serious criminal operations, including terrorism. Increasing the task force reach helps to decrease that vulnerability," said Greg Starr, Director of the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

"My office is firmly committed to aggressively investigating the use of false documents to defraud the foreign labor certification programs," said Gordon S. Heddell, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "By participating in the Task Force, we will continue to protect the integrity of DOL's programs against this type of corruption."

ICE is in a unique position to contribute to these task forces, given its combined immigration and customs authorities. Furthermore, ICE will bring the expertise of its Forensic Document Laboratory (FDL), which is recognized as one of the premiere fraudulent document analysis facilities in the world. Every year, the FDL provides forensic document support to thousands of cases from agencies in the Unites States and around the world. ICE also provides the services of its Cyber Crimes Center to investigate any Internet-related aspects of document and benefit fraud uncovered by the task forces.

-- ICE --

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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