US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR2904

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN SALVADOR 002904 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DHS FOR U/S RANDY BEARDSWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PREF, PREL, PTER, KCRM, KJUS, ES, ACCELERATED DEPORTATION 
SUBJECT: SECOND DEPORTATIONS WORKING GROUP MEETING: 
GOESDELEGATION TO DISCUSS EXPEDITED DEPORTATIONS 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Michael Butler for reasons 
1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  On October 21, the joint Embassy-GOES 
Deportations Working Group met to review issues to be raised 
by a GOES delegation traveling to Washington to discuss 
accelerated deportations the week of October 24.  The 
delegation will consist of Governance Vice-Minister Rodrigo 
Avila, Vice-FoMin Margarita Escobar, and Migration Director 
Jorge Santibanez.  During a briefing for Embassy 
participants, the GOES team stated that they will propose 
that deportees be positioned in two or three locations to 
facilitate consular interviews, and that DHS return 
non-violent deportees via commercial aviation.  The GOES will 
also want to discuss sharing biometric fingerprints taken 
from violent deportees in the U.S., increasing police 
cooperation relative to gangs, and changing current law to 
allow for Digital Video Conferencing of presumed Salvadorans. 
 The GOES reiterated its interest in negotiating bilateral 
extradition and prisoner exchange agreements.  The GOES is 
working to develop a long-term plan for dealing with the 
return of its citizens.  Despite their overt willingness to 
cooperate, however, their subtle commentary and body language 
reveal a sense of being overwhelmed by assimilating and 
re-settling so many individuals, especially those convicted 
of violent crimes in the United States.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) A GOES delegation led by Vice-Minister of Governance 
Avila will arrive in Washington the week of October 24 to 
discuss expedited deportations of Salvadoran nationals 
detained by DHS on immigration violations.  On Friday, 
October 21, Embassy officers (PolCouns, A/CG, DHS, INL) met 
with Vice Minister Avila (public security), Vice Minister de 
Escobar (MFA-Salvadorans living abroad), and Migration 
Director Santiba$ez to discuss the visit.  Embassy and GOES 
officials focused on immediate, medium-range, and long-term 
actions to be taken by the GOES and the USG to decrease the 
backlog of deportations. 
 
------------------- 
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS 
------------------- 
 
3. (C) Detainee Staging Areas:  The GOES will propose that 
DHS position all Salvadorans to be deported in two or three 
locations throughout the United States, preferably in cities 
that already have Salvadoran consulates (e.g., Los Angeles, 
Houston).  The GOES would then allocate more consuls to these 
locations to conduct citizenship interviews.  The increase in 
interviewers and the elimination of travel time to numerous 
detention facilities should, in their view, reduce the amount 
of time to issue travel documents. 
 
4. (C) Deportation via Commercial Aviation:  The GOES 
expressed their willingness to cooperate with the deportation 
of non-violent, immigration offenders via commercial 
aviation.  Although the specifics were not discussed, Post 
anticipates that the GOES will request advanced notice of 
such arrivals (e.g., name, carrier, flight number, arrival 
time).  The GOES further argues that deportees with serious 
criminal records/backgrounds continue to arrive via JPAT 
flights, and also request that known gang members, regardless 
of the activity that led to their deportation, also be 
deported via JPAT flights. 
 
---------------------- 
MEDIUM-RANGE ACTIONS 
---------------------- 
 
5. (C) Sharing Fingerprints:  Post understands that it is DHS 
policy to take biometric fingerprints of all deportees.  If 
that is the case, the GOES will request that DHS 
electronically forward the prints of violent deportees before 
they arrive in El Salvador. This request will extend to known 
gang members, regardless of the activity that led to their 
deportation.  This request is part of a larger issue on the 
type and format of information provided by DHS to the GOES 
relative to violent and gang affiliated deportees. 
Separately, Post is exploring methods of assisting the GOES 
to take biometric fingerprints of violent deportees once they 
arrive at the airport in El Salvador. 
 
6. (C) Police Cooperation:  The GOES will ask for greater 
police cooperation on gang-related criminal activity.  As an 
auxiliary to this request, the GOES will raise the 
possibility of establishing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty 
(MLAT).  The GOES also continues to press for accelerated 
negotiations on bilateral prisoner exchange and extradition 
agreements.  They are aware that the FBI plans to establish a 
Legal Attache in El Salvador and view this as a positive 
development. 
 
7. (C) DVC:  Under current law, a GOES official must 
interview presumed Salvadorans in person to determine if the 
GOES will acknowledge their citizenship and issue a travel 
document.  The GOES is amenable to introducing legislation to 
allow for this determination to be made by Digital Video 
Conferencing (DVC).  They are also considering sending 
trained Immigration officials to augment consular staff 
charged with conducting these interviews. 
 
------------------ 
LONG-TERM ACTIONS 
------------------ 
 
8. (C) The GOES is still developing a long-term approach to 
coping with the return of so many of its citizens.  The 
challenge is daunting.  They must create jobs for individuals 
who left El Salvador due to a lack of employment.  Unable to 
adequately address the current gang phenomenon, they must now 
find a way to absorb, rehabilitate, and demobilize additional 
gang members who may lack any cultural connection with El 
Salvador.  The GOES may not be able to discuss long-term 
actions in detail at this time, but will press for USG 
assistance for job training and development programs. 
 
-------- 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
9. (C) Our meeting with our GOES counterparts officials was 
very upbeat and positive.  They understand the importance of 
their visit to Washington, and in general, of their 
friendship with the USG.  Despite their overt willingness to 
cooperate, however, their subtle commentary and body language 
reveal a sense of being overwhelmed by assimilating and 
re-settling so many individuals, especially those convicted 
of violent crimes in the United States.  Washington officials 
should expect the GOES delegation to elicit sympathy for 
their cause, and should be prepared to discuss possible 
sources of assistance for GOES initiatives relative to 
expedited deportations. 
Barclay