U.S. – Australia Relations
U.S., Australia Join Forces To Limit Fraudulent Travel Documents
Washington, D.C. — 28 October 2005
New passport control system stems from APEC regional security commitment (590)
The United States and Australia have initiated a pilot program to test a joint passport control system, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner announced October 28.
The system, known as the Regional Management Alert List (RMAL), is intended to strengthen existing border management procedures. The two countries will be able to verify each other's lost, stolen or otherwise invalid passport records through an automated database, preventing improper use of documents for travel.
A counterterrorism initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the RMAL system has the potential to become a significant factor in border and transportation security throughout the Asia-Pacific region, according to CBP. The system could identify up to 3 million lost or stolen passports in the region as additional APEC economies join in the future.
"This program is a giant step forward in eliminating document fraud and will help to combat terrorism and improve travel safety throughout the APEC region," Bonner said. "The RMAL will have up to date information and assist in the ability to detect and prevent the air travel of known or suspected terrorists."
For more information on U.S. policy, see Response to Terrorism(http://usinfo.state.gov/is/international_security/terrorism.html) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) (http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/east_asia_pacific/apec.html).
Following is the full text of the CBP announcement:
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
October 28, 2005
UNITED STATES - AUSTRALIA JOIN EFFORTS TO VALIDATE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announces a joint counter-terrorism passport alert system with Australia.
Recently, the United States and Australia have begun piloting an enhancement to their existing border management systems. The pilot system known as the Regional Movement Alert List (RMAL) is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) counter-terrorism initiative that will allow the automated checking of each other's lost, stolen or otherwise invalid passport records, and, where appropriate, prevents the use of these documents for travel. This system could identify up to three million lost or stolen passports across the Asia-Pacific region.
"This program is a giant step forward in eliminating document fraud and will help to combat terrorism and improve travel safety throughout the APEC region. This system will, from anywhere in the world, automatically share data on lost, stolen, or invalid documents," stated Commissioner Bonner. "The RMAL will have up to date information and assist in the ability to detect and prevent the air travel of known or suspected terrorists."
When fully developed, RMAL will enhance the effectiveness of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). RMAL has the potential to become an important part of the border and transportation security infrastructure of the region and is a specific security commitment that APEC Leaders called for in the Enhancing Human Security section of the 2003 Bangkok Declaration and 2004 Santiago Declaration.
Airlines and passengers will not see any changes to current procedures, as the pilot will operate seamlessly with existing systems. Additional APEC Economies are expected to join in the future.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
Press Office
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(http://www.dhs.gov/)
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Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:http://usinfo.state.gov
Original document from Washington Hyperfile [EPF512].
Last update Monday, 19 November 2007
