Information-sharing
ASI’s primary goals are to deter, detect and disrupt illegal migration to the United States and increase criminal prosecution of smugglers and human traffickers by increasing the agency’s effectiveness in identifying, analyzing, assessing and responding to alien smuggling threats.

To accomplish these goals, another important function of the new office is the creation of a structure to institutionalize knowledge-sharing across CBP lines for the efficient exchange of information between ASI, other CBP components and external agencies regarding migrant smuggling, trafficking in persons and clandestine terrorist travel. Once information is received, ASI is accountable for providing information, trend analysis and critical assessments to field locations.

“Information-sharing is the key and establishing those channels of communication has been our number one priority,” states Acting Director Jim Collingwood. “The cooperation we have received from other CBP entities, especially the Office of Intelligence, the Office of International Affairs, the National Targeting and Security Office and the Border Patrol has been tremendous.”

Increasing the security zone
In conjunction with the ASI, and under ASI oversight, was the establishment of Regional Carrier Liaison Groups (RCLG). These groups, comprised of CBP officers operating out of Honolulu, Miami and New York airports, push the nation’s zone of security beyond physical U.S. borders. They do so by employing advanced targeting techniques to identify inadmissible aliens before they board flights overseas and coordinating the denial of their departure to the United States with CBP attachés, Immigration and Customs Enforcement attachés, foreign entities and carriers.

The work done by RCLGs has allowed carriers to avoid substantial penalties, and has prevented the arrival of many improperly and fraudulently documented aliens. Although not fully operational until December 2006, so far in FY 07 the RCLGs have identified 419 aliens that have been denied boarding by overseas carriers.

Partnerships are key
ASI is making significant strides with the help of its partners. For example, working with the CBP attaché in Mexico, ASI has identified a smuggling scheme involving the movement of Chinese nationals into Mexico. It is presumed that the ultimate destination of these Chinese nationals is the United States. Due to the global implications of this case it has drawn international attention.

When fully staffed and resourced the office will be better able to draw upon and leverage resources, strengths and expertise in order to achieve greater integration and overall effectiveness in CBP’s enforcement and other response efforts to human smuggling and trafficking.

The Office of Alien Smuggling Interdiction is still a work in progress, but it has made substantial progress in building a useful organization and fostering greater cooperation among various entities to combat human smuggling.