see also: in November 2008:   Thanksgiving Day Marijuana Seizure Yields 450 Pounds at Douglas Port of Entry   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Advises Travelers of Temporary Construction at Otay Mesa Border Crossing   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Niagara Falls, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the arrest of a Korean citizen on charges of false statements and misuse of a passport.

On November 15, CBP officers encountered a female claiming to be Su Jin Ji, a 32-year-old citizen of Korea, as she applied for admission into the United States at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Ji presented a valid Korean passport as identification and advised the primary CBP officer that she was destined to Fort Lee, N.J., to visit family and shop. Ji was referred to CBP secondary for additional processing.

During the course of the secondary inspection, officers entered the subject’s data into the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology computer system. This resulted in a mismatch with the fingerprints associated with the presented Korean passport. Further checks revealed that the subject’s true identity was that of Youn Jin Ji, the 33-year-old sister of the actual owner of the passport. The record checks also revealed that Youn Jin Ji had been refused admission to the United States on October 3, at Chicago’s O'Hare Airport. On that date, it was discovered that the subject had overstayed her last admission into United States and had been living illegally in the Ft. Lee, N.J., area.

Ji was arrested by CBP officers and charged with false statements and misuse of a passport. Ji is being detained at the Chautauqua County Jail pending arraignment in U.S. District Court.

“The US-VISIT program gives CBP officers the ability to verify a traveler’s true identity by comparing data including fingerprints with legitimate travel documents, including U.S. visas,” said Joseph J. Wilson, Buffalo port director. “Since US-VISIT began in 2004, DHS has used biometric identifiers to prevent the use of fraudulent documents, protect visitors from identity theft, and stop thousands of criminals and immigration violators from entering the country.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.