U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE

D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 1

Volume 23, Number 11 www.ins.usdoj.gov

Far-reaching agreement withCanada brings expandedcooperation on visas, asylumapplicants and sharinginformation on travelers.See page 7

Bolstering a common defense

Forsafety’ssake

Trainees with the Border Patrol’s Search Trauma andRescue Team (BORSTAR) demonstrate rappellingtechniques used to reach fall victims in rugged terrain.

See page 9

Answeringthe call

Two Miami District trial attorneys are practicing law inuniform after their Army Reserve unit was called toactive duty to support the war on terrorism.

See page 11

Border Patrol agents and Royal Canadian Mounted Police coordinate patrols on the St. Lawrence River nearCornwall, Ont., as part of an Integrated Border Enforcement Team

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A visit by a top-ranked official of the U.S.Immigration Service to an outlying station or officewas a notable event in 1928, during a slower age oftrain travel. It was likely the reason why 21members of the “Gulf Coast Border PatrolHeadquarters” gathered for this formal portrait inGulfport, Miss.

The honored guest, Assistant Commissioner ofImmigration Joseph Wallace, is wearing a bow tieand clutching a boater hat at center. His “youngson” stands in the back row, the only other person incivilian attire.

This photograph, one of about 2,500 imagescatalogued by the INS Historical Reference Libraryat Headquarters, is unusual among most others inthe collection from the era in that an attached listnames nearly everyone pictured.

That is because the photo made its publisheddebut in the June 1963 edition of the InformationBulletin, the predecessor publication to Communiqué.Under a headline, “Down Memory Lane,” a captiondescribed how retired Patrol Inspector Gordon G.Pugh brought a copy of the photo to the officer-in-charge of the Mobile, Ala., office in hopes that itwould be published in the Bulletin.

“Thanks to Mr. Pugh’s remarkable memory (hereeled off the names without benefit of notes), weare able to identify every officer,” the Bulletinreported. It doesn’t mention if Pugh’s memoryreached so far as to recall the officers’ middleinitials, or if the editors consulted another source forthat information.

Still, with thanks to Inspector Pugh’s now long-ago recollection, Communiqué, too, can name theofficers.

First row: Senior Patrol Inspectors Clarence B.Nelson, Thomas A. Jones, Thomas E. Martin andWilliam Raymond. Second row: Patrol InspectorsWallace J. Mangum and DeWitt T. Cain; ChiefPatrol Inspector Miller S. Baker; AssistantCommissioner Wallace; Patrol Inspectors GeorgeAverill and Warren Field.

Third row: Patrol Inspectors Rex J. Davis, JohnH. Majeau, Gordon G. Pugh, John R. Ivey, Percy L.Jacobs, Tom Campbell and Walter Schaus. Fourthrow: Patrol Inspectors Cecil P. Joiner, Harry DeKay,Jones K. Kneece; “young son” Wallace; PatrolInspectors Louie B. Stanaland and Henry Gilreath.

Photograph makes encore appearanceafter nearly 40 years out-of-print

The photo archive can be viewed at the Historical Reference Library on the first floor of Headquarters. Itis open to INS staff during normal library hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors should callahead at (202) 514-2837.

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The INS Communiqué is published by INS Headquarters under a contractwith Casals & Associates of Alexandria, Virginia. The publication iscommitted to informing the employees of the Immigration andNaturalization Service about official and unofficial activities. Readers areencouraged to submit articles, photographs, and letters to the editor. Writeto Communiqué c/o Casals & Associates / 1199 North Fairfax Street, ThirdFloor / Alexandria, VA 22314 / attention: INS Communiqué Editor.Submissions in electronic format may be sent to << ins@casals.com >>.

COMMUNIQUÉwww.ins.usdoj.gov

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James W. ZiglarCommissioner

Ray PotterEditor

Wendy WirthAssistant Editor

Joseph KarpinskiDirector of the Office of Congressional Relationsand Public Affairs

Don AbalosGraphic Design

HEADQUARTERS NEWSCommissioner thanks INS staff for Sept. 11 response........................Q&As on getting published in Communiqué ......................................Double-duty visa card debuts for Winter Olympics.............................Tracking foreign students to get a boost from SEVIS ..........................

INS NEWS OF NOTEPhoto Archive: A visiting VIP in a time of train travel .........................Lewis Rochester spells s-u-c-c-e-s-s in the mailroom.......................U.S. and Canada sign a memorandum of cooperation........................Dying man’s last wish granted ............................................................

INS NEWS FROM THE FIELDNational Guard sent to assist on northern border ...............................Powder triggers quick response at Vermont center .............................BORSTAR training puts agents to the test ...........................................Two Miami District attorneys are in the Army now..............................Telenovela star pitches border safety in Tucson PSAs.........................Tucson probe halts a bus line’s service for smugglers........................Undercover investigation puts meat packer on the hook.....................Intelligence Office provides training in ORION system........................Miami District takes a novel approach to legal training ......................

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INS Commissioner James W.Ziglar, speaking to theSenate AppropriationsSubcommittee on Treasuryand General Government onOct. 3:

“Mr. Chairman, I wouldlike to take this opportunityto send a message to the menand women of the INS andto the public for whom theywork: I have never been soproud of a group of peoplewith whom I have beenassociated as I am of ourspecial agents, detention anddeportation officers, inspectors, intelligence officers, Border Patrolagents, attorneys and numerous other individuals, both atHeadquarters and, in the field in response to the events ofSeptember 11.

“Within hours of these attacks, the INS was working closelywith the FBI to help determine who perpetrated these crimes andto bring those people to justice. Within 24 hours, under‘Operation Safe Passage,’ the INS deployed several hundredBorder Patrol agents to eight major U.S. airports to increasesecurity, prevent further terrorist incidents and restore a sense oftrust to the traveling public.

“At America’s ports-of-entry, INS inspectors continue to worktirelessly to screen arriving visitors, while encouraging the flow oflegitimate commerce and tourism. Meanwhile, despite thetragedies and the disruptions, our service operations havemanaged to complete over 35,000 naturalizations nationwide andprocess thousands of other applications since September 11.

“America should be proud of these men and women.”

Commissioner praises staff’sresponse to events of Sept. 11

In his own words

Q&A

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getting your story in print in Communiqué

Q What is Communiqué?

A Communiqué is a monthly newsletter written forand by INS employees. Its mission is to bothinform employees about Agency policies andactivities as well as acknowledge employees formaking a difference—both professionally and intheir personal lives.

Q How do I get an article published inCommuniqué?

A Communiqué is always looking for interestingarticles about Agency activities and employees.The newsletter encourages employees like you,who are most familiar with your district or office’soperations and people, to submit both news and

feature articles for publication. We, of course,reserve discretion when to publish and to edit forpublication. If a submission does not meet thenewsletter’s editorial standards, we will makeevery effort to work with the author to make thearticle acceptable for publication. Deadlines are thelast day of that month (e.g., Dec. 31 for theDecember edition).

Q What if I don’t have time or don’t feelcomfortable writing an article but still would liketo get coverage?

A The Communiqué editors can work with you to getcoverage in a way that works for you. Somepeople write fact sheets or first-person narrativesthat we rewrite into stories and then return tothem for approval prior to publication. Otherpeople prefer to be interviewed and have us write

the entire article (that they get to look at beforepublication).

Q Does submitting an article guaranteepublication?

A No. The editor, in consultation with theHeadquarters Public Affairs Office, determineswhich submissions will be published.

Q Will the article I write be edited?

A Communiqué editors are responsible for ensuringarticles are acceptable for publication. In all cases,we will at a minimum proof an article submittedfor punctuation and style. If articles need to berewritten, we will either advise the authors onways to rewrite them themselves or will rewrite

them ourselves. In all cases, we will return therewritten article to the author and/or

contact for approval prior topublication.

Q What kinds of articles areappropriate?

A Articles can range from brieffeature stories about peoplewithin the agency making adifference—both professionallyand in their personal lives—toshort writeups about specificevents of general interest. Ingeneral, the newsletter does notpublish editorials, endorsementsof commercial products orservices, or articles contrary toagency policy.

Q What writing style should I use?

A Conversational style works best. Try to write likeyou would talk. In addition, articles should be freeof acronyms and jargon unlikely to be understoodby most readers.

Q How long should articles be?

A Articles usually run from 500 to 600 words,although some items may require just one or twoparagraphs and more in-depth pieces may run aslong as 800 words. The editors will cut articles,when necessary, to meet space limitations.

Q Am I required to clear articles before they aresubmitted?

A Articles about district and office activities andpolicy issues should be cleared by the author

through the appropriate director(s) beforesubmission. Before each issue goes to press, it isalso cleared through the Headquarters PublicAffairs Office. Although the newsletter’s mainaudience is INS employees, remember that it isposted on the World Wide Web, so it does have aworldwide external audience as well.

Q How should I send my article?

A The editors of Communiqué prefer articles to be e-mailed. We are equipped to handle mostword-processing programs but prefer MicrosoftWord or WordPerfect. Alternatively, articles can bee-mailed as plain text through your e-mailsoftware or sent through the mail. Our e-mailaddress is ins@casals.com and our mailingaddress is 1199 North Fairfax Drive, Third Floor,Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

Q Should I send photos?

A The old adage about a picture being worth athousand words rings especially true inpublications. While authors are not required tosubmit photos with their articles, they are stronglyencouraged to do so.

Q What kind of photos should I take?

A Candid shots of people doing things are preferred.Ideally, photos should show people involved in theactivity discussed in the text—not shaking handsor lined up and smiling at the camera.

Q How should I send photos and captioninformation?

A Communiqué prefers digital images provided theyare high resolution (300 dpi) and several incheswide and/or prints, both black and white and color.We will also consider on a case-by-case basisslides and negatives. Photos should include typedcaptions identifying people from left to right,including job titles.

Q How can I get more information about submittingan article?

A The Communiqué editors are available to discussstory ideas and ways for you to generate coveragethat work for you. They can be reached at 703-920-1234 or by e-mail at ins@casals.com.

Q Where do I send articles and photos?

A Communiqué’s e-mail address is ins@casals.comand our mailing address is 1199 North FairfaxDrive, Third Floor, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

COMMUNIQUÉwww.ins.usdoj.gov

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Harrison Barkley was chosen to handle one legof the relay bringing the Olympic torch fromAtlanta to Salt Lake City – a stretch nearYuma, Ariz.

He is the teenage son of John B. Barkley,an attorney with the Phoenix District, andearned his spot on the relay team by winning anational writing contest on the theme of the

2002 Olympic torch run: “Light the FireWithin.”

Harrison’s young life offers a personaltribute to perseverance. Critically injured inan automobile accident when he was two yearsold, doctors doubted if Harrison would everwalk normally. His participation in the torchrun proved them wrong.

Carrying the torch

Olympic torch bearer HarrisonBarkley, right, with YumaSector Chief Michael Nicely,who presented Harrison witha Border Patrol hat.

A magical card will perform double-duty for athletesarriving in the United States for the 2002 WinterOlympics.

The Olympic identification and accreditationcard serves both as an Olympic athlete’s visa forentering the United States and – once it is activatedby officials at the site of the Winter Games in SaltLake City – an identity card for gaining admission tothe Olympic Village and competitive venues.

The card is one of several innovations developedby Department of State and INS planners duringthree years of preparations for the 2002 Games.Another result of their efforts is that for the firsttime, athletes were able to obtain their visas to enterthe United States – via the accreditation card –without setting foot in a U.S. embassy overseas.

Besides athletes, the Olympic accreditation cardis also issued to coaches and trainers, event judgesand officials of the International OlympicCommittee. It applies to everyone who is considereda member of “the Olympic Family,” about 29,000individuals for the upcoming Winter Games.

For immigration inspectors encounteringcardholders at ports-of-entry, the card’s best featuremight be that it can be instantly checked againstbiographical data that has been stored in theOlympic Visa Issuance Database, or OVID.

The tri-fold Olympic card carries a digitizedphotograph of the approved cardholder and a uniquebar code identifier. It contains a number ofembedded security features to thwart misuse, such asmicro-lettering, printing with gradual color changes

and watermarks. Some features are visiblewhen inspected under ultraviolet light orangled viewing.

To verify cards and to answer anyquestions that might arise at the ports-of-entry when official Olympic visitors enterthe United States, an inspections entryresponse team will be assembled at the SaltLake City International Airport. Theresponse team’s center will be open around the clockand staffed by representatives of the INS; theDepartment of State; and the Salt Lake OrganizingCommittee (SLOC), the host of the 2002 WinterGames.

In a training video prepared for, among others,INS and Customs Service inspectors, Secretary ofState Colin Powell said, “I’m very proud of OVID’sinnovative approach and believe it will make yourjobs easier, our borders more secure and the gamessafe and successful. “

Intensive planning among INS, StateDepartment and SLOC representatives started about18 months before the scheduled opening of thegames, according to Patrice A. Ward, the assistantchief inspector with the Office of Inspections whohas been working with Field Operations onOlympics preparations.

Planners drew upon the experiences of staff whohad worked on the last Olympics held in the UnitedStates, the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta thatresulted in few problems with the entry of accreditedOlympic visitors.

Double-duty identity-visa carddebuts for Winter Olympics

National identification card

�

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LEWIS S. Rochester, Jr., quicklydismisses a suggestion that he might beamong the INS’ longest-servingemployees. Precise with facts and carefulto give others credit they deserve, hesays that the distinction goes to ErmaPaliani, a secretary in investigations whojoined the INS in the early 1940s.

Rochester joined the INS nearly aquarter-century later, on July 8, 1964, tobe exact. However, after nearly 38 yearsof delivering the mail at Headquarters,Rochester is one of the agency’s best-known employees, and among the best atbeing able to put a name to many of thefaces he sees in the hallways. He’sunquestionably among the mostenthusiastic about going to work eachmorning.

“Some people come to work becausethey have to; I come to work because Ilove to and that’s because I learnsomething new everyday.” Work is soenjoyable that Rochester is routinely inthe mailroom well ahead of his official

start time. He uses this time to read hisBible, meditate, reflect on a difficult lifethat’s produced some hard-won victoriesand to count his blessings.

Moreover, as he frequently says, hehas much for which to be thankful.Surviving a life-threatening childhoodillness and contending as an adult witha learning disability, Rochester hadalready experienced a rough life beforehe arrived at INS, after which he says hislife was transformed.

A steady job at INS helped. The firstfew months sorting mail at INSHeadquarters, then located at D Street,were difficult, he recalled. However,Rochester gives the lion’s share of creditto the religious conversion heexperienced in August 1966.

Rochester was swept away at anevening service in southwestWashington. “God changed me 1 millionpercent,” Rochester said. Through thechurch, he would meet Gail, whom hemarried in 1972, leading to the births ofthree daughters-and now, twograndchildren.

Away from the INS, he devotes muchof his time to a prison ministry group inwhich he has been active for 20 years.He also reads books - especially abouthistory and nature, in addition to theBible that he carries almost everywhere.

A self-taught singer who for manyyears performed for patients in hospitalsand nursing homes, Rochester expandedhis repertoire last year by joining abarbershop quartet near his home in St.Marys County, Maryland.

His proudest accomplishment? “ThatI might have helped someone else whohad problems find courage and self-confidence.”

Lewis Rochester, Jr., sees each workday as an opportunity for on-the-job learning

Lewis Rochester can be found counting his blessings most weekday mornings inthe mailroom.

Rochester’s INS identification from 1964

I come to work

because I love to

and that’s because

I learn something

new everyday.

— Lewis Rochester, Jr.

“

“

7COMMUNIQUÉ

www.ins.usdoj.gov

Taking the campaign against terrorism to thenorthern border, Attorney General John Ashcroftand other officials on Dec. 3 signed a far-reachingagreement calling for more uniform visa policieswith Canada and increased information-sharing ontravelers.

The attorney general and INS CommissionerJames W. Ziglar were joined by their Canadiancounterparts during meetings in Ottawa and Detroit.

A memorandum of cooperation, signed by theattorney general, Canadian Solicitor GeneralLawrence MacAulay, and Minister of Citizenshipand Immigration Elinor Caplan calls for thedevelopment of common permanent-resident cardsthat include an individual’s biometric information,such as a digitally recorded thumbprint or eye scan.Canada and the United States will also increase theexchange of information on passengers aboardairline flights between the two countries.

The agreement spells out greater cooperation onasylum claims, aimed at ending the practice of“asylum shopping” between Canada and the UnitedStates. Claimants turned away from one countrywould not be allowed to immediately seek residencein the other. Would-be refugees would be required toapply for asylum in the first country they enter.

“This document is testimony to the ongoingcooperation and collaboration between the UnitedStates and Canada that was in place long beforeSeptember 11, 2001,” Ashcroft said. “We hope tobuild on our past successes as we move forward ondeveloping responses and strategies to ensure thecontinued prosperity of our independenteconomies.”

A subsequent agreement with Canada, signed inmid-December by U.S. Homeland Security DirectorTom Ridge, included the points in the Dec. 3agreement and extended cooperation to variouscustoms, intelligence, and infrastructure issues. Thememorandum of cooperation signed on Dec. 3focused on the deterrence, detection andprosecution of security threats and the disruption ofillegal immigration. It specifically called for:

Expanding the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET) to

include up to eight additional sites along the northern border.

The six-year-old IBET program, in which the Border Patrol has

been a key player, has been cited as a model for cross-border

cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

Establishing joint passenger analysis units to assess

passenger information at key international airports in the

United States and Canada.

Increasing the number of immigration control officers from

both the United States and Canada serving in third-country

locations in an effort to intercept inadmissible passengers

before they reach North America.

Developing a Safe Third Country agreement that will support

the free exchange of asylum information, which will help in

determining the identity and background of individual asylum

seekers.

Integrating Canadian officials into the U.S. Foreign Terrorist

Tracking Task Force, which was formed in October as one of

the first actions taken by the Homeland Security Council.

Enhancing the sharing of intelligence data between law

enforcement agencies under the direction of Project North

Star.

New agreement with Canada spells outwide cooperation on immigration issues

Commissioner James Ziglar,right, greets Canada’s Ministerof Citizenship andImmigration Eleanor Caplan.

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Continued on page 8

On the Cover...At the helm of the Border Patrol boatpictured at left in the front-pagephotograph is Patrol Agent In ChargeDick Ashlaw, assisted by SeniorPatrol Agent Steve Brockway, both ofthe Massena, N.Y., Border PatrolStation. Operating the RCMP boat atright is RCMP Constable DanielLaBerge, as Constable Yves Cuillerierpeers through binoculars.

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On a typical day, about 10,000 pieces ofmail are opened at the Vermont ServiceCenter (VSC) in Saint Alban’s. But asingle envelope containing a mysteriouswhite powder made Saturday, Oct. 13,anything but typical for the facility, whichemploys 1,100 INS and contract personnel.

For VSC Director Paul Novak, theenvelope carrying the mystery substanceunderscored the importance of continuallyupdating a facility’s emergency evacuationplan in light of each emerging hazard.

Just one week before the incident, theAmerican public was awakened to a newthreat in the terrorists’ arsenal – letterslaced with potentially fatal anthrax sporeswere sent to key officials. The first of thesebacteriological missive attacks targeted thenews media and congressional offices,including those of NBC news anchor TomBrokaw and U.S. Senator Tom Daschle ofSouth Dakota. More than 2,000congressional, postal workers and mediaemployees were believed to have beenexposed to anthrax spores contained in theletters, resulting in a few deaths.

So, when a contract employee at theVSC discovered white powder in a freshly

opened envelope, she placed the envelopedown and called a supervisor. Within 15minutes the Saint Alban’s fire departmentand an emergency medical team were onthe scene. The fire chief ordered that thebuilding be evacuated.

A small weekend staff of about 60persons, who had been trying to workdown a backlog of applications, stood vigilin the parking lot for four hours, awaitingword to return to their jobs, Novak said.

Inside the building, emergency crewswere eventually joined by Vermont’shazardous materials response team, an all-volunteer organization with headquartersin Burlington, Vt., south of Saint Alban’s.The suspect envelope was placed inside aplastic bag, which was then sealed andtaken to a state laboratory for testing.

The powder tested negative, containingneither dreaded anthrax spores, noranother hazardous substance. However, theVSC was closed for five days.

The facility’s evacuation plan provideda response to the discovery of hazardoussubstances at the facility, Novak said.However, the October incident promptedthe VSC to add three pages to its

evacuation plan, providing a more detailedresponse for dealing with potentiallytainted mail.

Advice for personnel who encountermail containing a mysterious substance:quickly and gently put the envelope down;notify a supervisor; and, above all, don’tpanic.

Novak urges all INS facilities to includein their evacuation plans a response tosuspicious mail. “Don’t wait for an incidentlike the one we had to modify yourevacuation plans.” He urged managers seekout the best available advice ahead of timefrom local and state agencies, includingthe police, fire, emergency medical teams,plus hazardous materials and public healthofficials.

On the Thursday following the incident– the same day that the VPC reopened –INS supervisors met at a nearby hospitalwith the full spectrum of local andVermont emergency officials to review theincident and discuss procedures regardingsuspicious mail.

Envelope containing powder triggers shutdown of Vermont Processing Center

“The events of September 11, 2001,have cast a new importance on ourrelationship with the United States,particularly with respect to border securityand the legitimate flow of people acrossour shared border,” Canadian Minister ofCitizenship and Immigration EleanorCaplan said. The agreement “reaffirms ourlongstanding commitment to make theU.S.-Canada border a model ofcooperation.”

Since Sept. 11, Canada has begun workon a $280 million anti-terrorism plan toprotect U.S. citizens, Canadian Solicitor

General MacAulay said. “We are bothcommitted to pulling together on securityissues that affect the safety of all ourcitizens.”

Testifying before a Senatesubcommittee in October, INSCommissioner Ziglar said, “The UnitedStates and Canadian tradition ofcooperation and coordination has beenlongstanding, and is critical to the securityof the northern border.”

An underlying objective of the jointanti-terrorism campaign is to preserve thefree flow of commerce across the border.

The United States and Canada enjoy theworld’s largest bilateral trade relationship,amounting to an exchange per day of $1.3billion in goods and services.

In the days following the Sept. 11terrorist attacks, increased securitysurveillance led to long traffic back-upsand lengthy delays at ports-of-entry alongthe borders with both Canada and Mexico.

Agreement with CanadaContinued from page 7

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Request for expanded joint trainingunderscores BORSTAR’s contributions

The newest members of the Border Patrol’s SearchTrauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) graduated inOctober after a grueling, six-week, hands-on trainingregimen that covered a range of survival skills fromrappelling steep slopes to performing water rescues.Fifty-five agents from throughout the Southwestborder sectors graduated from BORSTAR academiesin San Diego, Calif., and Artesia, N.M.

Recognition of BORSTAR’s contributions tosafety on the border was reflected in a request byU.S. and Mexican officials in mid-2001 for anexpansion of the BORSTAR program as part of abroader binational effort to promote border safety.

“The Border Patrol has always recognized thatprotecting the borders includes an obligation toprotect lives,” Border Patrol Chief Gustavo De LaViña said. “BORSTAR builds on our longstandingpractice of aiding those in distress. ThroughBORSTAR, we are better prepared to make theborder safer.”

BORSTAR training includes instruction insearch and rescue techniques, land navigation,technical rescue skills, communication and first aid.In the rugged terrain and remote locations wheremany BORSTAR agents are assigned, they are oftenthe most readily available source of emergency helpand rescue. They are trained to provide medicalassistance with the aim of stabilizing patients fortransport to hospitals or other providers of acutemedical care.

BORSTAR agents have assisted in rescueoperations that lasted for as many as three days andinvolved more than 300 victims. In some cases, theagents were airlifted into remote canyons where theyrappelled rock surfaces to reach victims who hadfallen.

In recent years, BORSTAR teams have sharedtheir knowledge with Mexican law enforcement andrescue personnel. In Fiscal Year 2000, more than 400Mexican officers participated in joint-trainingexercises.

“Joint training is vital,” De La Viña explained.“In addition to producing better-trained agents, italso fosters more collaborative working relationshipson both sides of the border.”

The steps taken to enhance public safety at theborder have already produced dramatic results.BORSTAR agents haveperformed a number ofrescues and are quicklybecoming the premier rescueentity along the Southwestborder.

BORSTAR is a part of thebinational Border SafetyInitiative (BSI)launched in 1998.Under BSI, the BorderPatrol hasinstitutionalized itslong-standing safetypractices in an effort tomake the border saferfor agents, migrants, andborder residents.

Since the BSI started and through last September,Border Patrol agents have rescued more than 4,400migrants from dangerous situations.

BORSTAR trainees practice a rescue in rugged terrain.

A BORSTAR trainee,strapped into a rope-fastened seat, learnsthe basics as hisinstructordemonstrates.

Instructors at the top ofa cliff coach tworappellers duringBORSTAR training.

10INS

www.ins.doj.gov

The last wish in life came true last summer fora dying man who wanted to become a citizenof the country he had lived in for the past 66years.

Thanks to Special Agent Grant Lucas ofthe Chicago District office, who usually worksinvestigating immigration fraud, Hilario PerezSalazar is now an American citizen.

In a letter sent to District Director BrianPerryman last August, Lucas was praised forhaving gone “out of his way professionally tomake this dying man’s dream come true.” Theletter was sent by Sgt. Debra Dewey of theRochelle Police Department, located south ofthe city of Chicago.

Sgt. Dewey had adopted Salazar, whosedays left on earth are few due to his failinghealth.

“Lucas was fantastic,” she said. “As soon ashe heard of this case, he was on the phoneimmediately with his co-workers, so he couldhelp Mr. Salazar fulfill his wish of becoming aUnited States’ citizen.”

Salazar, now 78, came to the United Statesfrom Mexico as an orphan when he was 12years old. At first, he worked in farm fields tomake a decent living for himself, and he later

found other avenues for employment outsideof the arduous work of tending fields.

According to Sgt. Dewey, Salazar is a hard-working man who is extremely talented andresourceful and who has always been involvedin a variety of businesses and hobbies. Salazarowned his own landscaping business, and heeven taught ballroom dancing.

“He was a tailor for a while and used tomake his own clothes. He also loves to paintpeople and animals. His whole house isdecorated with paintings, his most treasuredone - the American Eagle,” said Dewey as shespoke of this man whom she affectionatelycalls “papa.” “He did not want to die as anorphan to our country.”

Salazar suffers from Parkinson’s Disease andis confined to a wheelchair. Yet, his mentalcapabilities are intact and his spirit seems tobe as well.

His dream of becoming a U.S. citizenfinally did become true on June 22. With hisAmerican flag waiving in his hand, and asmile from ear to ear, Salazar arrived at thefederal building in Rockford, Ill., to proudlyrecite the oath of allegiance to the UnitedStates of America, the country that he feels somuch a part of.

Despite his ill health that day - his heartrate was at 23 beats per minute - Salazar posedfor photographs and enjoyed the importantceremony, which Lucas was able to help makea reality.

“I was glad to see both enforcement andbenefits work efficiently toward a successfuloutcome,” Lucas said.

When asked how it feels to have helped anelderly man realize his final wish in life, Lucasmodestly replied that he did what anyone inhis place would have done. Lucas quicklyadded that without all the assistance from hisco-workers in the Examinations branch, he

Chicago special agent helps make dying man’s last wish come true

Hilario Perez Salazar, who normally isconfined to a wheelchair, stands proudly withthe American flag. Thanks to the ChicagoDistrict’s special effort, he is now anAmerican citizen.

Continued on page 12

By Marilu Cabrera

The Chicago INS

office can truly be proud

of such a humanitarian

endeavor.

““

–District Director Perryman

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11

Two Miami District trial attorneys report for duty in the war on terrorism

For two of the Miami District’s trialattorneys, the nation’s war on terrorismbrought a change of venue. Instead ofjuggling busy schedules for immigrationcourt appearances in Florida, the two havebeen working out of the Office of theJudge Staff Advocate at the U.S. Army’sFort Stewart in Georgia.

After their Army Reserve unit wascalled to active duty in mid-October,attorney Kathy Giraitis quickly adjusted tobeing addressed as “Major Giraitis” as shewent about her duties as the deputy chiefof legal assistance at the fort. Theassignment involves helping soldiers andtheir families deal with a myriad of legalproblems. Back in civilian life, Giraitisworks out of the Miami District’s Orlandosub-office.

Her counterpart from Miami, attorneyStuart Siegel, better known in the Army asCapt. Siegel, was assigned to the criminallaw section of Fort Stewart’s judgeadvocate’s office, where he has assistedcourts-martial and administrativeseparation boards.

Both Giraitis and Siegel have workedon “soldier readiness preparations” (SRPs)for troops about to depart for overseas duty.SRPs typically involve preparing andexecuting wills and powers of attorney,“serious business when soldiers are headinginto harm’s way,” Giraitis said.

The attorneys’ assignments broughtsubtle lifestyle changes. Faced with an on-base housing shortage, they have joinedother officers and many senior enlistedstaff in staking out temporary livingquarters near the base. Instead of shakingoff the morning cobwebs with a second cupof coffee, their workdays start with a 6:30a.m. parade formation and flag-raising,followed by a bugle call and an

invigorating hour ofrunning and calisthenics.

Giraitis noted that themotto of the JudgeAdvocate General (JAG)is: “Think like a lawyer;act like a soldier.” Thathelps to explain, she said,the regimen of “soldieractivities,” including a 12-mile rucksack road march,field exercises and a 9mmpistol range qualification.

Fort Stewart, the homeof the Army’s ThirdDivision, is nearHinesville, Ga.,population 26,500. It islocated about an hour’s drive fromSavannah, Ga., or about 550 miles fromMiami and 250 miles from Orlando.

Siegel, Giraitis and about 50 othermembers of the 3220th U.S. Army ReserveGarrison Support Unit were ordered Oct.15 to report to the unit’s headquarters inWest Palm Beach, Fla., on a six-hournotice. A few days later, they travelednorth to their assignments at Fort Stewart.

Giraitis described as “quite hectic” theshort span of time that she and Siegel hadto hand off their pending caseloads to INScolleagues, put financial and householdaffairs in order, and say goodbye to familyand friends.

However, both INS attorneys say theyare glad to have been called upon.

“I am proud to serve my country in thistime of need,” Siegel said. “I am especiallyproud of the sacrifices made by my wifeand two children during my militaryservice.” He has dedicated his currentservice to the memory of his wife’s cousin,

who was killed when the first airlinercrashed into the World Trade Center.

A native of the New York City area,Giraitis stated: “This is my way to pay myrespects to the World Trade Center victimsand their families. They are in mythoughts during this mission.” Herhusband, Dave, a civilian contractor forthe Defense Department, was working in awing of the Pentagon adjacent to the crashsite on Sept. 11. “He was unharmed,though shaken up,” she said.

Their Army orders are for one-yearassignments, with one-year extensionspossible. “The actual duration of themission depends upon what the Third ID(infantry division) is called upon to do inthe war on terrorism,” Giraitis said.

Both officers look forward to returningto their families, Florida homes, and INSduties. “After all,” Giraitis said, “we in theINS are important warriors in the waragainst terrorism in our own way.”

Army Maj. Kathy Giraitis and Capt. Stuart Siegel, Miami District staff attorneys, standnext to an M-1 tank and a Cobra helicopter that are on display at Fort Stewart, theirtemporary workplace.

Do you know of an INS employee who has been called to active duty with their National Guard or Reserve unit to help in the war onterrorism? Ask them to write to Communiqué about their experiences at ins@casals.com.

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Keeping track of the more than half million foreignstudents who at any given time are thought to beenrolled in U.S. universities and technical schools isa tall order, one that the INS is about to undertakewith help from schools and other agencies.

The Student Exchange Visitor InformationSystem (SEVIS) is expected to be up and running byJanuary 2003. The program took on a new urgencyfollowing the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

The costs of maintaining the database are to becovered in large part by a $95 fee charged eachincoming student, starting in early 2002. The chargeis in addition to any applicable visa-processing fee.

The shift to SEVIS is needed because an existingsystem to track foreign students keeps only limitedrecords on visiting students, is based on oldtechnology and cannot meet the need for immediateaccess to information, Acting Deputy CommissionerMichael Becraft told a congressional subcommitteein October.

Objections to the new $95 fee from groupsrepresenting academic and technical traininginstitutions had delayed implementation of SEVIS,Becraft told a subcommittee of the House EducationCommittee. “With the events of September 11, thatobjection has nearly disappeared and the INS, withyour help, will meet and intends to beat, Congress’deadline of January 2003 to start implementation ofSEVIS.”

The student database fee was first proposed in themid-1990s after a 1993 truck-bomb explosion in theparking garage beneath New York City’s WorldTrade Center. A man allegedly linked to thatbombing was found to have remained in the UnitedStates on an expired student visa.

Congress in 1996 mandated the creation of adatabase to track all international students whoarrived on any of the three types of student visas.(The F-1 is for individuals pursuing academic orlanguage studies; the J-1 is issued to participants inexchange visitor programs approved by theDepartment of State; and the M-1 is for studentsattending vocational or other nonacademic programsat INS-approved institutions.)

The database system was developed by the INSand the Department of State’s consular affairs officein cooperation with the State Department’sexchange visitor program, the Department ofEducation, and representatives of school andexchange visitor programs.

A pilot program, started in 1997 and involving21 institutions, tested some of the conceptsassociated with new data-collection and reportingmethods, many of which are now components ofSEVIS.

SEVIS will operate from a central database on aserver maintained by the INS. It will be accessibleby schools and exchange programs, via a web site,allowing the institutions to request and provideinformation. For example, a university will be ableto report when an expected foreign student fails toregister for classes, setting into motion a process tocancel the individual’s student visa. Institutions alsowill be able to update a student’s academic status,degree program, field of study and address changes.

The system is expected to help modernize thecollection and processing of information, therebyreducing fraud and data-entry errors and aid in thesharing of information between the INS, Departmentof State, and educational and visitor programs.

Foreign-student tracking system gets a green lightin the aftermath of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

would not have been as successfulas he was.

“Please make sure you givecredit to everyone who helpedme; I certainly didn’t do it alone,”Lucas said. “I was only a smallpart of this.”

Supervisory DistrictAdjudications Officer JeannetteSchoonmaker assigned DistrictAdjudications Officer DarrenCarson to take fingerprints of Mr.Salazar at his home as part of therequirements for naturalization.

Schoonmaker kept in continualcontact with Sgt. Dewey toensure that the entire process wasrunning smoothly.

Dewey thanks Lucas for beingbehind the Chicago District’sextra effort: “Grant continued tostress the urgency to all partiesinvolved. Due to Lucas’persistence and the cooperation ofall involved, Hilario Perez Salazarwas able to fulfill his life-longdream.”

After reading the thank-younote sent from Sgt. Dewey,Chicago District Director BrianPerryman acknowledged Lucas formaking such a difference in thisperson’s life.

“The Chicago INS office cantruly be proud of such ahumanitarian endeavor,” he said.“We have many employees goingout of their way to help others,and it is so satisfying to know thattheir efforts are being recognized.”

WishContinued from page 10

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For Olga Breeskin, a veteran actress accustomed tothe demanding production schedules of Mexicantelenovelas, volunteering to appear in several publicservice announcements (PSAs) on border safetymight have seemed like a breeze.

Breeskin is featured in a four-part series of PSAsdeveloped by the Tucson Sector’s public informationoffice. The spots, which are being broadcast ontelevision channels in both Latin America and theUnited States, warn prospective migrants of the risksposed by unscrupulous smugglers and other dangersalong the border.

The messages are directed at both potentialborder crossers in Latin America and their familymembers in the United States who sometimesinitiate contacts with migrant smugglers in hopes ofbringing relatives into the United States. Breeskin’sunpaid appearances in the Border Patrol PSAsreflected her personal concern for the safety ofmigrants.

“My hope is that people will recognize the risksthey face attempting to cross the border with thehelp of smugglers,” Breeskin said during a Tucsonnews conference that introduced the PSAs. “If I cansave one life by putting out these announcements,then I want to do my part.”

Casting Breeskin for the PSAs was suggested byKaren Dorman, the officer-in-charge of the PhoenixDistrict’s Las Vegas sub-office. The Mexican-bornactress and solo classical violinist has appeared innumerous telenovelas and variety shows. Breeskinnow resides in Las Vegas, where the PSAs werefilmed last summer. Joyce Silva, the Tucson Sector’svideographer, handled the post-production and finalediting on the project.

Breeskin’s celebrity in Mexico made her an idealspokesperson, a point that wasn’t lost on TucsonSector Chief David Aguilar. “This has been ourmessage from the beginning, but coming fromsomeone like Ms. Breeskin, it’s bound to have evenmore impact,” he said at the news conference.

The Tucson Sector completed work in early 2001on its first border safety PSA that targeted LatinAmerican audiences and featured Hollywood actorRicardo Montalban. With its second foray intoPSAs, the sector wanted to fashion a message thatwould connect with the emotional bonds of families.

PSAs are part of the Border Safety Initiative(BSI). More than three dozen PSAs have beendeveloped to educate and alert the would-be migrantpopulation about border-related dangers.

“We wanted to deal more specifically with thedangers facing women and children, as well as thewhole family unit,” said Rob Daniels, the sector’spublic information officer. That concern wasunderscored by the deaths of 17 women duringillegal border-crossing attempts during the 2001fiscal year in the Tucson Sector.

While in Tucson, Breeskin met with agents fromthe sector’s BORSTAR program to learn about someof the Border Patrol’s efforts to save lives. Her workon the border safety PSAs was recognized by theGreater Las Vegas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,which in November presented her with an engravedclock.

Each of the four PSAs captures a different themedrawn from the larger message about the dangers ofillegal border crossings. The series includes:

“The Desert,” featuring aerial views of the west desert, the

name given to the desolate expanse of terrain that straddles

the border southwest of Tucson.

“Smugglers,” warning migrants that the deceptions and false

promises of smugglers can lead to death in the desert.

“Families,” explaining to aliens in the United States that they

may jeopardize the safety of relatives by putting them in touch

with smugglers.

“Names,” listing the names of some migrants who have died

in crossing attempts and showing dramatic film footage taken

of a funeral in Mexico.

Tucson Sector’s warning to would-be migrantsgets a special delivery from a star of telenovelas

Former Mexican telenovela star Olga Breeskin talks about herappearances in the Border Patrol’s public service announcements duringa news conference. Tucson Sector Chief David Aguilar looks on at right.

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An investigation carried out by the BorderPatrol Tucson Sector’s anti-smuggling unit;the Los Angeles, Phoenix, and SanFrancisco districts; and the El Paso Sectorresulted in the disruption of one of thelargest illegal alien-smuggling ringsinvolving a commercial bus company andindictments of 20 bus company employees.

The actions taken against Golden StateTransportation of Los Angeles wereannounced by Attorney General JohnAshcroft on Dec. 10 at a news conferencein Washington, D.C. Operation GreatBasin could result in one of the largestasset forfeitures involving alien smuggling.

“I have seen firsthand the life-threatening and oppressive conditions thatconfront people trying to cross the borderillegally,” the attorney general said.“Today’s indictment underscores ourcommitment to prosecute migrantsmugglers, seek forfeiture of their illegalprofits, and put them out of business.”

“This case reaffirms our commitment todisrupt migrant smuggling on all fronts,from the border to the boardroom,” INSCommissioner James W. Ziglar said.

Senior managers of Golden State,including the company’s president, itsfounder and several terminal managers,were among the employees charged withtransporting and harboring illegal aliens forprofit. Twelve alleged smugglers were alsoindicted, each of them alleged associates ofeither the “Pineda” or “Castillo” alien-

smuggling operations. The arrestswere the result of a two-year, jointinvestigation conducted by theINS and the FBI.

Golden State allegedly deriveda substantial portion of itsrevenues from servicing the needsof alien smugglers and theircustomers – undocumentedimmigrants traveling from thesouthwest border region to inlandcities, such as Los Angeles,Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix,Las Vegas and as far north asYakima, Wash.

The indictment filed in U.S.District Court in Phoenix by theU.S. Attorney for Arizona estimated thatthe bus line transported between 50 to 300illegal immigrants a day during 2000. Atypical bus fare for transporting an illegalimmigrant from Tucson to Los Angeles was$80 with tickets typically purchased inbulk by smugglers. Golden State employeesallegedly worked in conjunction withsmugglers, who in many cases provided“stash houses” to temporarily housemigrants between legs of their journeys,according to the indictment.

To reduce the likelihood of detection,Golden State frequently scheduled busdepartures after midnight, altered routes toavoid Border Patrol traffic checkpoints anddiscouraged some individual fare-payingtravelers from boarding buses carrying large

numbers of illegal immigrants. Passengerswho were illegal immigrants were oftenasked to wait in fields or alleys nearGolden State bus terminals, boarding justbefore departure. The company alsoknowingly hired illegal immigrants becausethey “were less likely to contact lawenforcement” and could inspire confidenceamong passengers, the indictment states.

Golden State, which was incorporatedin 1989, is 51 percent owned by SistemaInternacional de Transporte de AutobusesInc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary ofGreyhound Lines Inc. Greyhound is ownedby Laidlaw Inc. of Burlington, Ont.,Canada. Greyhound bus lines was notimplicated in the charges against GoldenState.

Tucson Sector’s probe halts bus line that catered to alien smugglers

Traffic stop

Operation Great Basin received intensive media coverage.

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An undercover investigationputs meat packer on the hook

INS investigators posing as Mexican labor recruiters helped buildan alien-smuggling case against one of the nation’s largest meatprocessors, resulting in grand jury indictments of the company andsix of its executives and managers.

The undercover investigation resulted in charges of conspiracyto transport illegal aliens across the southwest border to work inthe company’s meat processing plants. The 30-month probe wasinitiated by investigators of the New Orleans District’s Memphissub-office and the anti-smuggling unit in San Angelo, Tex.

A 36-count indictment announced Dec. 19, issued by a federalgrand jury sitting in Chattanooga, Tenn., alleges that Tysons hiredmore than 2,000 illegal immigrants through the undercover INSagents. It also states that the company assisted the immigrants inobtaining false documents so that they could work “under thefalse pretense of being legally employable.” The indictment allegeshiring improprieties at 15 Tysons’ facilities in Alabama, Texas,Indiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina and Missouri.

Continued on page 16

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In a continuing effort to increase intelligencetraining, the Office of Intelligence with fundingfrom the Border Coordination Initiative conductedthree classes on the ORION/Leads system during2001.

The classes focused on creating complex matrixand link analyses, tying known criminal offenderstogether from fragmented information. The classestook place from June 4 to 8 in Miami in support of“Operation Riverwalk”; from July 9 to 13 in SanDiego for the Western Region; and from August 27to 31 in Burlington, Vt., for the Eastern Division. Afourth class, for the Central Region, is to bescheduled later.

Participants learned how to fully use the G-392(INS) Intelligence Report, retrieve that informationonce stored in the ORION/Leads database, maintainthe ORION/Leads system, and conduct fieldtraining and intensive intelligence collection and“analytical” procedures. They also received classinstruction materials, enabling them to teach otherofficers/agents upon return to their duty locations.

“This is an incredible tool that will assist allofficers and agents in gathering, reporting, andutilizing intelligence information that will bettersupport enforcement efforts within each of theirareas of operation,” said Jack Garofano, the MiamiDistrict’s assistant director of inspections.

A highlight of the class was briefings thatparticipants conducted for high-level managers, suchas Garofano, from the surrounding areas. Thebriefings focused on the results of an exercise inwhich officers and agents worked in teams to createcomplex link-analysis charts, tying majororganizations together. Each team received a realname, telephone number, or company name andspent about three to four hours searchingintelligence information on the “live”ORION/Leads system, developing matrixes and link-analysis charts, and conducting a detailed analysis toidentify leads on real criminal offenses.

In Miami, immigration inspectors in the classmanaged to discover a previously unknownsmuggling organization that ran one of its baseoperations from Miami. The case involves thesmuggling of aliens and narcotics by land and sea,which impacts both the INS and U.S. CustomsService.

ORION/Leads is the INS’ national intelligenceapplication system providing a comprehensive

analytic tool for tracking and analyzing cases basedon intelligence collected about events, groups,individuals, vehicles, vessels, lost passports and othersources. From fragmented bits of information, thesoftware – run from a desktop or laptop computer –creates matrix and link analysis information thatproduces “leads” for identifying and targetingcriminal offenders.

The system can be accessed through the INSintelligence Web page, which provides informationon concealment techniques and three years ofcritical intelligence reporting products. Theseinclude Forensic Document Lab Alerts, lost/stolenpassport numbers, Be On the Look Out (BOLO)reports, Intelligence Collection Analysis Teams(ICAT) reports, officer safety reports, and vehicleand vessel information.

Officers and agents are using the system to targetmulti-offenders as well as enhance the way theyconduct daily intelligence activities againstsmugglers who use land, sea, and air routesnationwide. INS began development of theORION/Leads system in 1997, and it currentlyhouses nearly 38,000 G-392 Intelligence reportsspanning six years (1996 to present).

During the Eastern Region training inBurlington, Regional Director Scott Blackman saidthe training reflected his commitment to providingall officers/agents with the necessary training andtools necessary to perform their duties.

“This is the first step in accomplishing that goal,”he said, “for the intelligence program not only inEastern Region but nationwide.”

Headquarters Office of Intelligence conducts classes on ORION/Leads system

Swanton Sector SupervisorySpecial Agent Robert Dubaypresents the leads on realcriminal offenses his teamidentified using theORION/Leads system.

Deputy Assistant RegionalDirector Cesar Hernandez,Western Region Office ofInspections, and SpecialOperations ImmigrationInspector/Intelligence OfficerVeronica Sanchez, Long BeachPort-of-Entry, develop leads.

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For its first-ever “Immigration Practice Symposium,”the Miami District Counsel’s Office brought togethera panel of attorneys who often face off in court.

The result was an often lively exchange of viewsduring a two-day symposium between the district’sattorneys, who represent the INS in ImmigrationCourt cases, and private practice attorneys, whotypically represent plaintiffs on such matters. Alsoparticipating were immigration judges from theOffice of Executive Review (EOIR).

“It was an interactive education process foreveryone there,” said Miami District Counsel DanielN. Vara, Jr. “In a panel-style setting, thepresentations allowed greater interaction andparticipation.”

The session, held last Aug. 27 and 28 in Miami,was organized as a way to improve litigation skillsand open a dialogue on other legal immigrationissues. It also established lines of communicationamong private-practice attorneys, INS attorneys andimmigration judges, “who are often at odds on manyof these issues,” the counsel’s office noted. TheCounsel’s Office is looking forward to repeating theevent.

“In an interactive panel-style setting, thepresentations called for a greater exchange of ideasand viewpoints,” Vara said. The symposium settingallows “for great insight and understanding of theother’s points of view.”

The seminar was designed to open up discussionon other legal immigration matters and providetraining for attorneys to better serve their clientele.It was also successful in establishing a line ofcommunication between the private attorneys andimmigration judges and attorneys.

“We exposed them to everything from ethicaldecision-making to criminal cases and bondhearings, and direct and cross-examining issues,”Vara said. “The point was to give everyone a chanceto gain a better understanding of why each side doeswhat they do.”

Miami District lawyers take a novel approachto develop better immigration law training

Tysons, based in Springdale, Ark., said in astatement issued shortly after the indictments wereannounced that the charges were limited to a fewmanagers who were acting outside of company policyat five of the company’s 57 processing plants. Four ofthe individuals were fired following an internalinvestigation, and two others were placed onadministrative leave, the company said.

The indictment states that “the company hadcultivated a corporate culture that condoned hiringillegal immigrants to meet production goals and cutcosts.” In its statement, Tysons dismissed thisallegation as “absolutely false.”

The investigation started in mid-1999 when INSinvestigators received a document concerning thehiring practices at Tysons’ plant in Shelbyville, Tenn.

Meat PackerContinued from page 14

Taking part in the symposium were Immigration Judges Kevin Bradley,Michael Horn, Elisa Sukkar; District Counsel Daniel Vara, Jr., ImmigrationJudge Keith Williams; Deputy District Counsels William Gossard, RebeccaSanchez-Roig, Rene Mateo and Riah Ramlogan-Seuradge.