Honduras Pilot Initiative

of 47
Withheld pursuant to exemption
(b)(5) WIF Draft
of the Freedom of Information and Privacy A

—FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
GUATEMALA, HONDURAS AND EL SALVADOR PILOT INITIATIVES
TALKING POINTS:
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations
(ERO) created the Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador pilot initiatives in the Rio Grande
Valley (RGV) region to streamline repatriations to these three countries and to decrease the
average length of stay of aliens in ERO custody.
• Via the Guatemalan Pilot Initiative (GPI), the Government of Guatemala agreed to interview
up to 100 aliens per day, while in Office of Border Patrol (OBP) custody, and issue travel
documents the same day.
• In FY 2013, via the Guatemalan Initiative, consular officials conducted 11,127 consular
interviews, and issued 10,972 travel documents.
1Se-- In FY 2014, via the Guatemalan Initiative, consular officials conducted 25,478 consular
• In FY 2015, as of April 6,2015, via the Guatemalan Initiative, consular officials have
conducted 5,823 consular interviews, and issued 5,723 travel documents.
1Se-- ERO has increased removals to Guatemala since the inception of GPI from an average of
1.5 charter removal flights per week to four charter removal flights per week. The
ALOS within ERO custody is currently 3.3 days.' The Govermnent of Guatemala has
requested to expand GPI to Arizona and other regions in Texas. CHP is currently
exploring the feasibility of expanding.
• Via the I londuran Pilot Initiative (I 1P1), the Government of I londuras agreed to interview up
to 100 aliens per day, while in Office of Border Patrol (OBP) custody, and issue travel
documents the same day.
1$,In FY 2013, via the Honduran Initiative, consular officials conducted 5,026 consular
1Se-- In FY 2014, via the Honduran Initiative, consular officials conducted 16,658 consular
1$, In FY 2015, as of April 6,2015, via the Honduran Initiative, consular officials have
conducted 3.122 consular interviews, and issued 2,828 travel documents.
ERO has increased removals to Honduras since the inception of this initiative from an
average of two charter removal flights per week to four charter removal flights per week.
The ALOS within ERO custody region is currently 5.1 days. 2
• Via the El Salvador Pilot Initiative (EPI), the Government of El Salvador agreed to
temporarily detail Consular Officials on two separate occasions in FY2014 to conduct
additional interviews and expedite the issuance on travel documents.
During the two months of participation in FY 2014, the El Salvador Initiative conducted
1540 consular interviews, and issued 1129 travel documents.
' ALOS data is as of February 14, 2015.
ALOS data as of February 14, 2015.
Prepared by: (b)(6),(b)(7)(C
Date: Tuesday. April 7.2015
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C) 02-732 (b)(
2016-ICFO 44468 4 of 47

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
WA TCH OUT FOR/IF ASKED
• Why is El Salvador not currently participating in the EPI with ERO?
1e-- The Consul General at the new Salvadorian Consulate in McAllen, TX has pledged to
participate in EPI; however, due to staffing shortages at the consulate in McAllen, TX, El
Salvador is currently unable to participate in EPI.
BACKGROUND
• In April 2013, ERO implemented the Guatemalan Pilot Initiative (GPI) within the San
Antonio area of responsibility (AOR). To support the commencement of GPI, ERO
expedited the installation of Video Teleconferencing (VTC) equipment at the Guatemalan
consulate in McAllen, TX and provided electronic Travel Document System (eTD) laptops,
printers and technical support for the eTD system. In addition, ERO provided travel funds
support to initiate the program. ERO also negotiated and facilitated with the Government of
Guatemala to reduce the notification period for the flight manifest from 48 hours to 24 hours
to expedite the removal and directly reduce the average length of stay (ALOS).
• In June 2013, ERO implemented the HPI within the San Antonio AOR. To support the
commencement of HPI, ERO provided the Honduran Consulate in McAllen, TX with eTD
laptops, printers and technical support for the eTD system. In addition, ERO provided travel
funds support to initiate the program. ERO also negotiated and facilitated with the
Government of Honduras to reduce the notification period for the flight manifest from 72
hours to 48 hours to expedite the removal and directly reduce the ALOS.
• In June 2014, ERO implemented the EPI within the San Antonio AOR. The local El
Salvadoran Consular Official agreed to interview aliens at the Port Isabel Detention Center.
ERO provided support for the El Salvadoran Consular Official to temporarily detail consular
staff to the Rio Grande Valley area to provide assistance with travel document interviews and
travel document issuance. FRO paid for lodging and meals, and provided office space at thc
Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Los Fresnos, Texas. In July 2014, the El Salvadoran
Consular Official detailed consular officials to the Laredo Detention Center (LDC) in
Laredo. Texas. to conduct travel document interviews and issue travel documents. The
decision to conduct EPI at LDC was made because LDC houses the largest population of
Salvadorans in ERO custody in the San Antonio AOR. The only support that ERO provided
for this phase was office space. In late August 2014, the Government of El Salvador opened
a new consulate in McAllen, Texas. To support the commencement of EPI, ERO expedited
the installation of VTC equipment at the Salvadoran consulate in McAllen, TX and provided
eTD laptops, printers and technical support for the eTD system. The El Salvadoran
Consulate is currently not participating in the EPI program. A new Consul General arrived in
early February 2015 at the El Salvadoran consulate in McAllen, Texas. ERO is currently
working with this new leadership to restart EPI.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)Prepared by: I (b)(6),(b)(7)(C I ICETIRt
Date: Tuesday. April 7.201:,
202-732 (b)(
2016-ICFO 44468 5 of 47

of 47
Withheld pursuant to exemption
(b)(5)WIF Draft
of the Freedom of Information and Privacy A

From:
Sent:
To:
COMMA
Subject:
Attachments:
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
27 Jul 2016 1:17:4 -0400
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
HPI
HPI June 26, 2014.pptx, HPI paper.doc
Greetings,
This is what I have specific to HPI.
Thanks,
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer
DI-15/ICE ERO
Non-Detained Unit
Harlingen Resident Office
956-389 • Office
956-535 Cell
"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20,
has wasted 30 years of his life" — Mohammed Ali
2016-1CF0 44468 22 of 47

ICE
U.S. Immigration
and Cuswins
Lntorcement
Honduran Pilot
Initiative (HP!)
• Electronic Travel Document Requests to
date: 18,190
• Removals: Males: 11,263
Females: 3,774
Total: 15,037
• Average Length of Stay in ICE Custody:
FY'13 5.07 days
FY'14 3.48 days
2016-1CF0 44468 23 of 47

ICE
U.S. Immigration
and Cuswins
Lntorcement
HP! Participation
• Only persons with final orders of
removal
• Medically cleared for travel
• Not participating:
Asylum or fear claims
Minors or unaccompanied
children
2016-1CF0 44468 24 of 47

ICE
J. S Inunigi at ton
and Cuswm,
Lntorcement
• HPI officially started on June 24, 2013
• The first interviews took place on April 3, 2013 at
the Harlingen Border Patrol Station in Harlingen,
Texas.
• The Honduran Consulate in McAllen conducts
interviews and issues travel documents on the
same day.
• HR operations are conducted from Monday
through Friday.
2016-1CF0 44468 25 of 47

ICE
J. S Inunigi at ton
and Cuswm,
Lntorcement
HPI significantly reduces detention periods in
Border Patrol detention cells. Reduced detention
periods result in:
• Lower risk of disease transmission;
• Improved personal hygiene accessibility;
• Better nutritional options;
• Decrease in stress, frustration and fewer
disciplinary incidents;
• Knowledge of case disposition;
2016-1CF0 44468 26 of 47

ICE
J. S Inunigi at ton
and Cuswm,
Lntorcement
• Significant reduction in ICE detention time;
• Participants will return to Honduras in days, not
weeks;
• Reduces possibility of contact with
unscrupulous immigration attorneys;
• Reduces the number of detainee telephone
calls to the Consulate;
• Persons are easier to locate if detained in
detention centers;
• Phones are available at detention centers
2016-1CF0 44468 27 of 47

From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
27 Jan 2015 11:40:04 -0500
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
RE: HPI and GPI
Opening of the consulates. We provided VTC acquisitions/installations and eTD laptops, printers and
tech support and some travel fund support to initiate the programs. They had staff in place already and
for HPI, they had staff in McAllen by June 2013 with the TD's being issue from Houston via eTD.
From (b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 10:26 AM
Toj (b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
Subject: HPI and GPI
He f,1 /1,1(71/
I have a quick question on HPI and GPI. I have searched for info but found nothing. When these
programs started back in 2013, did ADR fund any temporary details of consular officers or did the
programs commence with the openings of the consulates?
Thanks,
I (b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
Detention and Deportation Otheer
fowl Doom-Lent Unit West El Salvador, Guatemala and I londuras
Enforcement and Reines& Operations
US. Impc4iAion and Customs Polon:einem
202 711 (10)( D) 1202-27 1771(M)
(b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
NOTICE: Tins communication may con en al information. If you are not an intended recipient
or believe you have received this communication in error, please do not print. copy, retransm ...didnuise use this
information. Please inform the sender that you received this message in error and delete the message from your system.
2016-1CF0 44468 33 of 47

FOR oFFicini "Sr oykv
El Salvador Project Initiative efforts
February 6,2014
BACKGROUND:
In November 2012 ICE jointly collaborated with the Government of Guatemala (GOG) to
establish a sub-consulate to the Consul General in Houston, located in McAllen, TX. ICE
provided support via office space leased through the City of McAllen and installed
Videoteleconferencing (VTC) capability at the site. This Guatemalan Pilot Initiative ((PI)
directly impacts ICE San Antonio Rio Grande Valley (RGV) operations and according to HQ-
Field Operations, travel documents requested through the GPI are typically received the same
day.
In early 2013 the Honduran Pilot Initiative (HPI) was commenced through joint collaboration
with the Embassy of Honduras in Washington DC and the Consul General in Houston, TX. The
Government of Ilonduras (G011) began the process of staffing a sub consulate to be collocated
with the Guatemalan sub consulate in McAllen, TX but in the immediate intcrim, the HPI is
being managed through the Consul General in Houston, TX. The travel document issuance
turnaround rate for the HPI is 1-2 days according to the San Antonio Field Office. The sub
consulate of I londuras in McAllen, TX is staffed as of January 24, 2014 and 11Q is coordinating
to provide VTC and any support needed.
In June 19, 2013 ICE initiated discussion with the Government of El Salvador (GOES)
demonstrating proven efficiencies gained through cooperative partnership with the GOG and
GOH in response to the surge of their nationals arrested in the RGV. ICE asked the GOES to
consider this option as a way to reduce TD processing times and was offered to collocate with
the GOG sub consulate in McAllen, TX but the proposal was refused. The GOES did request 2
additional VTC units to provide their limited staff at the I louston Consulate General more
capability of increasing thcir interviews of detained nationals. As of December 10, 2013 ICE
funded and installed two VTC units providing a total of 3 VTC units at the Houston Consul
General's office. While it appears that TD processing times have slightly improved, this has not
shown to have as significant impact commensurate to the CiP1/11PI.
On December 2,2013 DHS/OIA and ICE/ERO met with the GOES Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) Vice Minister (VM) Garcia in San Salvador at which time ICE offered immediate
tem orary consular office space at the Port Isabel Detention Center and VTC capability. VM
agreed to continue exploring options to establish a sub consulate and requested a tour of
the RGV. This ICE hosted trip is tentativel scheduled for March 19 through 21, 2014 and to be
attended by the MFA. Embassy and Consul General staff
Staff Responsible for Briefing Memp:
Detention and Deportation Officerl (b)(6),(b)(7)(C)
2016-1CF0 44468 40 of 47

SNA Land migration Phase Triggers and Capabilities
Background
Joint Task Force West (ITF W) is developing a Land Migration Surge Plan for the JTF W Joint
Operational Area (JOA). In this plan, specific levels of activity are required to indicate changes
from steady state normal operations to increased apprehension and activity levels that would be
indicative of a surge.
To ensure an appropriate measurement of activity that impacts ERO program operations, specific
activity and operational levels need to be established.
South Texas Corridor — Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio Field Offices.
SNA AOR
SNA AOR Ground Transportation is undertaken through a contract with Trailboss Inc. Trailboss
will respond to all transportation requirements in the San Antonio AOR. There is no need to
modify the contract, just need to request service. The contract encompasses all of the OBP
Sectors within the San Antonio Field Office and may be called upon for "on demand routes" not
included; the charge for this service is (b)(4) (b)(7)(E)
1(b)(4) (b)(7)(E) I Transportation can be called on any time, 24
hours per day, and 7 days per week.
Additionally a contract with MVM Inc. has been established for UAC escorts originating from
the RGV via commercial airlines outside of the SNA AOR. The contract and daily operations are
managed by JFRMU.
SNA AOR currently has (b)(7 lAO aircraft positioned within the AOR to undertake removal
missions and air transfers to other ERO AORs for detention. SNA has in the past averaged 15 of
the 32 available removal flights weekly to respond to the removal of detainees.
Issues arising from an increase in fear claims from the detained population within the SNA AOR
are addressed with the Houston Asylum office. Houston CIS has detailed teams of Asylum
Officers to each facility within the SNA AOR to enhance support and reduce lag time of case
interviews and processing.
There are four defined phases of activity within the Migration Surge Plan, and indicator! trigger
activity levels for each one. The phases are defined as follow:
Phase I — Normal Operations
Respond to OBP RGV, LRD, DRT and OF0 within the SNA AOR as per normal
protocols. Detention space is available for operational needs. A defined percentage level of
Detention Space Capacity usage is not required to quantify this level. (Per LESA current
becispace level as of March 4, 2015 for SNA are 6,160.5 beds)
2016-1CF0 44468 41 of 47

• Leverage vacant ICE-ERO detention space within the AOR and in other
U.S. locations as necessary as part of normal operations
• Leverage aircraft to enhance removal capacit in SNA AOR within the
JTF-W South Texas Corridor as necessary rcraft assigned to SNA for
Removal and CONUS transfer missions)
• HPI and GPI within the RGV to ensure removal of aliens as efficiently as
possible
• FAMU facilities in South Texas Family Residential Center and Karnes
Residential Center (established late 2014 to address FAMU influx)
• Assist OBP and OR) within the SNA AOR as necessary
• Land transportation routes in effect for response to JTF-W Southwest
CorrMor
Phase 2— Initial Influx
Initiate Phase 2 response once Detention Space Capacity in the Field Office AOR is at
94% over a five day average while daily apprehensions remain at or above a higher daily average
than normal during this five day time frame, or as determined at the discretion of the FOD or
appropriate designee.
• Continue with Phase 1 Response
• Increasingly Leverage vacant ICE-ERO detention space in other U.S.
locations engaging ERO HQ for assistance
• Expand additional bedspace within the SNA AOR to stage FAMU/UAC/A
for removal foreign or transfer Conus
• Leverage additional aircraft to enhance removal capacity in SNA AOR
within the JTF-W South Texas Corridor as necessary
• Engage JTF-W components to provide assistance as necessary
Phase 3 — Major Influx
Initiate Phase 3 response once Detention Space Capacity in the Field Office AOR is at
97% over a five day average while daily apprehensions remain at or above a higher daily average
than normal during this five day time frame, or as determined at the discretion of the FOD or
• Assign SNA ERO representative to manage coordination between
resources and assistance to all JTF-W Corridor components
Phase 4— Land Migration Surge
Initiate Phase 4 once Detention Space Capacity in the Field Office AOR is at 99% over a
five day average while daily apprehensions remain at or above a higher daily average than
normal during this five day time frame, or as determined at the discretion of the FOD or
2016-1CF0 44468 42 of 47

• Engage ERO HQ and all ERO AORs for support of the Surge to entail
detailed staffing to the AOR, resource realignment or bedspace shortfalls
Phase 5 Return to Normal Operations
A downward turn in usage of Detention Space Capacity is evident by numerical
definition of percentages as described in Phases 2, 3, or 4; or at the determination of the FOD or
2016-1CF0 44468 43 of 47

FIELD OFFICE: SAN ANTONIO FIELD OFFICE
JTF-W Tasking
Instructions:
Please complete the attached table with the following information:
1. Header — Enter name of Field Office.
2 Detention Space Capacity The Normal Operations Percentage of bed space utilized by the Field Office over a five-day
period while apprehensions remain at their daily average. AORs must identify the percentage of increased detention capacity
requirements for phases 2, 3, and 4. (List as a percentage).
3 Effective Repatriation Ability Inability to effective repatriate aliens to their country of origin due to exigent circumstances
in the country of origin (e.g. — natural disaster such as earthquake, flooding, etc.), a sharp rise in credible fear claims in any
specific nationality, or the inability to obtain sufficient travel document issuance for specific nationality due to limitations of
consular staff or other concerns (narrative).
4. Staffing — Detail staffing requirements (additional personnel needed to handle each phase of the surge) to assist the AOR with
increased operational requirements. (Narrative).
5 Transportation Requirements —Field Offices should also consider detainee transportation requirements that exceed their
current capacity as an indicator that could trigger movement to a higher phase with additional needs for increased
transportation resources. This would include transportation performed by ERO personnel or contractors (narrative, example, in
phase 3 may require an additional 20 busses.).
2016-1CF0 44468 47 of 47

Honduras Pilot Initiative

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (9)

Similar to Honduras Pilot Initiative

Similar to Honduras Pilot Initiative (20)

More from Bryan Johnson

More from Bryan Johnson (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Honduras Pilot Initiative