INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Frontex: Eu Border Control Cooperation at Frankfurt Airport

Published: Tue 13 Mar 2007 08:36 AM
VZCZCXRO3393
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHFT #1199 0720836
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130836Z MAR 07
FM AMCONSUL FRANKFURT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0257
INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
UNCLAS FRANKFURT 001199
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SMIG ASEC EAIR PBTS PREL GM
SUBJECT: FRONTEX: EU Border Control Cooperation at Frankfurt Airport
REF: STATE 26738
1. SUMMARY: In a February 19-March 9 joint operation, FRONTEX border
security guards from seven EU countries are screening passengers at
Frankfurt Airport to curb illegal entry to the EU. FRONTEX
officials are pleased with the operation, which has netted fifteen
detentions, mainly from South America. The operation may provide
useful insights for DHS initiatives at European hub airports. END
SUMMARY.
Ongoing Operation "Amazon II"
-----------------------------
2. FRONTEX, the EU Border security cooperation agency, deployed
twenty-nine experts from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,
Portugal, and Spain to eight European airports to reduce air
travelers' misuse of visas and other travel documents for illegal
entry to the European Union. The current operation -- Amazon II --
is a follow-on to a similar operation that took place in November
2006. According to a recent FRONTEX press release, airports in
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Rome are
participating in this operation in addition to Frankfurt Airport.
DHS Frankfurt Observes Operation
--------------------------------
3. Post's senior DHS representative spent a day at the Frankfurt
airport observing FRONTEX operations, whose officers are pleased
with their results. In particular, the Spanish customs and
immigration officials were extremely useful in dealing with flights
from Latin America. The FRONTEX border control officials wear
their home country uniforms but can question and detain suspects
under the supervision of host country (German) officials. The power
to detain and question people considerably enhances FRONTEX's
effectiveness in assisting German border control. Since February
19, the operation in Frankfurt has yielded fifteen detentions of
improperly documented travelers, largely from Latin America, en
route to destinations such as Spain and Portugal.
COMMENT
-------
4. The FRONTEX Amazon II operation reflects FRONTEX concerns over
the use of EU hub airports like Frankfurt for malafide travelers
from countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. As the USG
considers stationing DHS/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Liaison
Officers at Frankfurt Airport under the Immigration Advisory Program
(IAP), the FRONTEX initiative could provide valuable insights.
5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Berlin.
POWELL
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