STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at Washington Dulles International Airport detected a Bangladeshi citizen Saturday who was attempting to enter the U.S. with travel documents that did not belong to him.
CBP charged the man administratively for violating U.S. immigration law and he was ordered removed from the country pending an asylum claim.
The 31-year-old Bangladeshi man arrived on a flight from Ethiopia. He presented a Bangladeshi passport and a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident identification card to a CBP officer who determined that the man was a biometric mismatch to the resident card’s true bearer.
Further questioning and electronic records checks revealed the traveler’s true identity.
The man remains in federal detention until his asylum interview. He faces a five year bar from returning to the U.S.
“Customs and Border Protection officers employ a variety of tools to ensure that the traveler standing before them is a legitimate traveler visiting the United States for legitimate purposes,” said Wayne Biondi CBP Area Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “We are a welcoming nation, and one that gladly welcomes visitors who respect our laws.”
Travelers are encouraged to visit CBP’s Travel website to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S.
The Privacy Act prohibits releasing the traveler’s name since he was not criminally charged.