In a matter of seconds, a decision must be made, and that same decision must be made at hundreds of ports of entry, thousands of times each day. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, as the person could be an illegal immigrant worker, narcotics smuggler, a fugitive from justice, or even a terrorist.

Employment authorization cards are viewed under normal light and ultraviolet light to help determine if a document has been altered or is fraudulent.

New security features, many of them similar to the features we see in our new paper money, are constantly being incorporated into the production of travel documents to foil those who would counterfeit or alter them. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the “bad guys” to duplicate the quality of these documents; and while it is true that CBP officers encounter some crude copies, commonly referred to as “fifty-footers” for the distance at which their flaws are evident, the wide availability of graphics production technology has led to higher quality counterfeit and altered documents. It is similar to an arms race in that we must work constantly to stay ahead of our adversaries.

The document examination training staff at the CBP Academy help our CBP officers develop the skills they need to detect counterfeit and altered documents and identify imposters. The training is based on programs developed by the Forensic Document Laboratory (FDL), which is under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Students are instructed using high-resolution projection equipment capable of creating a detailed image. With this quality of projection, features not immediately evident are pointed out to help the students develop the visual acuity they will need in the field to identify the telltale signs of counterfeiting and alteration.

In each class, students are given genuine and fraudulent documents to handle and examine. They are instructed in specific security features of commonly encountered documents and they are taught to use ultra-violet light to evaluate security features that are not visible in natural light. The ultra-violet light detects the presence or absence of fluorescent security features. The white light is used for back and side lighting to help detect photo-substitution or any other anomalies in a document. Each student is given a loupe magnifier and taught to use it to examine critical features of documents.

For some students, identifying imposters is the most difficult task. We all assume we are skilled at distinguishing one person from another, but that is a dangerous assumption. Many students focus by habit on only a few features of the human face. Frequently they ignore evident differences. The students learn techniques developed by the FDL to overcome those bad habits.

While it may be true that we learn best from experience and mistakes, CBP cannot afford such a learning exercise when the security of our borders is at stake. The document examination training staff at the CBP Academy is working hard to give our new CBP Officers the skills they need to get the job done and keep our borders safe.