Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Public Safety

Border Officials See Increase In Passport Fraud

Border Officials See Increase In Passport Fraud
Federal border officials seized more than 100 fake or fraudulently-obtained passports and travel visas during a week-long crackdown at California's U..S Mexico border crossings.

Federal border officials seized more than 100 fake or fraudulently-obtained passports and travel visas during a week-long crackdown at California's U..S Mexico border crossings.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say they've seen an increase in the number of people trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico using fraudulent U.S. passports and visas during the last year.

As of June 2009, U.S. citizens crossing from Mexico back to the U.S. through land borders have been required to show a passport under a law called WHITI.

Advertisement

Johnny Armijo, with Customs and Border Protection, says smuggling organizations have adapted to the new law.

"Those that are involved in nefarious activity are now using travel documents more often now because of our WHITI mandates," says Armijo.

Armijo says the travel documents smugglers use are often stolen or bought from document vendors.

The U.S. attorney's office will prosecute about four dozen of the cases.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.