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 News from Around the Americas | November 2006 
Federal Authorities Detain 16 Travelers at Houston Airport
 Armando Villafranca - Houston Chronicle
| | Data submitted by the passengers don't match files. |
Federal authorities delayed the recent departure of 16 international travelers, including 15 Mexican nationals, who were boarding a Mexico City-bound plane at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official said data submitted by the passengers did not match the data on file when they entered the United States.
Under a law that went into effect in June 2005, passenger manifest information for all international inbound and outbound flights must match. Passengers are detained when the exit data, such as passport numbers, do not match those submitted when entering the country.
"The post-9/11 Congress passed a law mandating this manifest information for inbound and outbound flights," said Kelly Klundt, CBP spokeswoman in Washington.
She said Congress passed the law to reconcile exit data with entry data for all international passengers.
The law was part of legislation that led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and included new requirements to tighten security at airports and along U.S. borders.
Klundt declined to say what information was missing or did not match when the 16 passengers tried to board the 9 a.m. Continental flight.
She could not comment on how frequently this occurs. The problem was discovered during a random check of passenger manifests.
All 16 were allowed to board later flights. No information was available about the passengers or how or when they entered the country initially.
Dave Messing, Continental spokesman, said the airline was unaware of any discrepancy until it was notified by CBP officials. He said the data are submitted to the carrier at the ticket counter and any error is uncovered by CBP officials monitoring international travel.
avillafranca@chron.com |
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