Enhancing Border Security through the Establishment of National Terrorist Watchlists
Workshop jointly facilitated by U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Justice, ICITAP
Thursday 19th May- 9.00am-10.30am
Chaired by Timothy Tschida, Watchlisting Advisor & Daniel Guerrero, Watchlisting Assistance and Support Program Advisor, ICITAP/US Department of Justice and the Counterterrorism Bureau
Foreign terrorist fighters pose an acute and growing threat to international peace and security. It is often challenging to identify and track terrorists as they travel through and between borders, but when arranging or conducting travel, they supply biographic and biometric information at borders, through airlines, or upon encounter.
If a nation establishes a watchlist of foreign terrorist fighter identities that is accessible by border authorities, this information allows for the ability to confirm an identity against the watchlist, develop additional intelligence, and stop any terrorist activity.
In United Nations Security Council 2396, the development of a comprehensive national counterterrorist watchlist to support screening and investigative activities is one of several security obligations for member states to pursue. Border security is on the front line of this effort and operates most effectively with accurate, complete and accessible data provided in a national terrorist watchlist.
In this Workshop you will:
- Gain an understanding of terrorist watchlisting and how such programs fit within border security.
- Recognize the importance of terrorist watchlisting as well as obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2396.
- Be introduced to the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s Watchlisting Toolkit.
- Learn how Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) data and biometrics can be integrated into the watchlisting process.
- Appreciate how an effective watchlisting system can enhance interagency and international cooperation and information sharing.
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