To identify and stop high-risk travelers at foreign airports before they board planes bound for U.S. at Madrid Barajas International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano signed a Declaration of Principles formalizing the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) with Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. After signing the program Napolitano said, “Protecting our nation from terrorism requires close coordination with our international allies and this collaboration enhances the capabilities of United States and Spain to facilitate legal travel and deter dangerous people attempting to enter our country.” Since its implementation, IAP Madrid has identified or prevented the travel of 402 improperly documented travelers, intercepted 23 persons with fraudulent documents, and stopped 10 terrorism-related suspects. Secretary Napolitano’s visit to Spain was her fourth stop in a weeklong trip to the United Kingdom, Portugal, Kuwait and Ireland. During her visit to Portugal, Napolitano signed a Preventing and Combating Crime (PCC) Agreement that allows for the exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement between two countries while ensuring privacy protections.

For complete information, please click United States and Spain Formalize Arrangement to Interdict High-Risk Travelers