Cablegate: Dakar Fraud Summary - Second Quarter Fy2007

VZCZCXRO4230
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #1041 1341212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141212Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8297
INFO RUEHPNH/NVC PORTSMOUTH 0909
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS DAKAR 001041

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR CA/FPP
DEPT PLS PASS TO KCC
PARIS FOR DHS/ICE
ECOWAS POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMGT ASEC KSTC SG
SUBJECT: DAKAR FRAUD SUMMARY - SECOND QUARTER FY2007

REF: A. 05 STATE 205073
B. DAKAR 0355

1. (SBU) Embassy Dakar's quarterly fraud reporting cable for the
second quarter (January-March) of FY2007 follows. Responses are
keyed to Ref A.

A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS: Since the last report, there has been no
significant change in the economic situation. The current political
situation continues to be characterized by tense competition between
the ruling party, the "Parti Democratique Senegalais," and the
opposition parties. The presidential election took place as
scheduled on February 25 without violence. Though the opposition
contested the results, the Constitutional Council declared them
valid since the shortcomings and flaws during the voting process
were not substantial and significant enough to invalidate the
election. The major opposition parties are boycotting legislative
elections scheduled for June 3, 2007.

B. NON-IMMIGRANT (NIV) FRAUD: Two Senegalese passports with valid
B1/B2 visas were reported stolen.

C. IMMIGRANT VISA (IV) FRAUD: In this quarter, Post returned 35
petitions to USCIS for review with the recommendation that they be
revoked. Post requested Advisory Opinions for 12 ineligibility
findings under INA section 212(a)(6)(C)(i) because of identity
fraud. In all 12 cases, the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD)
revealed that the applicants had previously applied for immigrant
and non-immigrant visas under different names and dates of birth.
VO concurred with Post in all 12 instances. Post found seven
immigrant visa applicants ineligible under INA section
212(a)(9)(B)(ii).

D. DV FRAUD: Post has been unable to verify the authenticity of
Gambian documents because The Gambian Government charges a fee to
verify documents. As a result, it has been difficult to verify
educational credentials submitted by Gambian DV winners.

E. ACS AND PASSPORT FRAUD: No change.

F. ADOPTION FRAUD: During this quarter, post received its first
IR3/IR4 visa application for an orphan adopted in Senegal. The case
had numerous fraud indicators and is currently under investigation.
While the number of IR3/IR4 visa applications for orphans adopted in
Sierra Leone has decreased significantly, we continue to receive new
cases. During this quarter, Embassy Freetown completed field
investigations to confirm the orphan status of six adopted orphans,
of which only four were orphans under INA section 101(b)(1)(F).
There are three pending orphan field investigations. At the
direction of VO, Post issued one IR3 to an adopted orphan after
USCIS reaffirmed an I-600 petition despite the fact that the child
has two living birth parents and the birth mother did not personally
sign the relinquishment statement presented as evidence of orphan
status.

G. ASYLUM AND OTHER DHS BENEFITS FRAUD: No change.

H. COOPERATION WITH HOST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES: No change.

I. AREA OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: No change.

J. STAFFING AND TRAINING: The Fraud Prevention Coordinator, a
Consular Associate, attended the All-Africa Fraud Conference in
Accra, Ghana. The training was very beneficial to Post.

JACOBS

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