By Shelley Smith

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 23 illegal immigrants during the early part of November 2007, for using fake security badges issued by the Department of Aviation, to work in critical areas and on the tarmac of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The discrepancies were first noted in March by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspector and after an eight-month investigation involving federal, state and Chicago authorities they identified and busted a vulnerability that could have compromised national security.

Those illegal immigrants who were arrested were employed by Ideal Staffing Solutions Inc., who had built an illegal work force and were contracted to United Airlines, KLM and Qantas. It was found that 110 of the 134 badges issued to the illegal immigrants did not match those carriers. Twenty-one of the illegal immigrants are believed to have come from Mexico and two from Guatemala. Affidavits in a complaint that were unsealed in the U.S. District Court claimed applications for the 110 fake badges listed Social Security numbers that did not exist, belonged to other individuals and some of the numbers listed belonged to people who were deceased.

On November 14, 2007, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee (HHSC) regarding TSA Security and had stated, “This is the most tested workforce that I know of in the United States, and it uses the best technology, and I have to say they are the best in the world at what they do.”

Hawley’s full written testimony before the U. S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on November 15, 2007, states Federal, State, and local law enforcement work together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Joint Terrorism Task Forces across the United States to identify and disrupt terrorist activities within the United States as U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities work to identify any potential terrorists from entering into the US.

Though the investigation continues and not all details can be revealed, the affidavits allege that Ideal Staffing informed the illegal workers they needed identification and the documents did not have to be legitimate. The company was also accused of supplying some with deactivated badges that were issued in other peoples names.

The big questions to be answered is not only how did this occur, but why were workers with deactivated badges allowed to enter secured areas of the O’Hare airport? With thousands of people passing through the airport each year and with the holiday seasons coming up, hopefully illegal activities such as these will be put into check quicker to continually improve and maintain national security and safeguard those who fly.

Other Resources, Blogs and Articles:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/tv/orl-07nov08,0,6885887.story
http://www.ohare.com/
The Unfriendly Skies

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About the Author
Shelley Smith is an expert in analysis and research on national and international law, foreign affairs, criminal justice systems and the psychology of criminal behavior. Smith is currently working toward a B.A. in Intelligence Studies with a focus on analysis and terrorism at American Military University.