STERLING, VA.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Washington Dulles International Airport discovered an El Salvadoran woman with fraudulent travel documents Sunday.
CBP charged the woman administratively for violating U.S. immigration law and ordered her removed from the country pending a credible fear interview with an asylum officer. She will be detained until the interview.
"Customs and Border Protection officers use their training and experience, as well as a variety of tools, to ensure that the traveler standing before him or her is a legitimate traveler visiting the United States for a legitimate purpose," said Frances B. Garcia, assistant port director for the Port of Washington. "We are a welcoming nation, and one that gladly welcomes visitors who respect our nation's laws."
The 19-year-old woman arrived from Mexico City Sunday and presented a Guatemalan passport and U.S. travel visa. A CBP officer referred her for a more comprehensive secondary exam after the officer noticed some discrepancies on the visa. During the secondary inspection the traveler admitted to paying $3,000 for a fraudulent passport and visa with another $1,500 due after she made it into the U.S. She also admitted to being coached on how to answer likely questions at the U.S. port of entry.
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 she was not criminally charged.