Fact Sheet

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January 2004

Immigration Intelligence - Overview

The Immigration Intelligence network of the CBSA is an important component of Canada's public safety and anti-terrorism initiatives, and enhances border security while facilitating legitimate travel through our borders.

CBSA's Immigration Intelligence network is involved in the planning, collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence regarding threats to the integrity of Canada's immigration, visitor, refugee, and citizenship programs. The Immigration Intelligence network also promotes interoperability and information sharing with CBSA's partners in the wider intelligence and law enforcement community.

The CBSA Immigration Intelligence network is composed of the NHQ Immigration Intelligence Branch, Migration Integrity Officers at posts abroad, and Regional Immigration Intelligence units in Canada. This network is also responsible for assisting visa officers and immigration officers in determining the admissibility of persons seeking to enter or remain in Canada.

The CBSA's Immigration Intelligence network is composed of the following:

• NHQ Immigration Intelligence Branch provides functional direction and case support with respect to persons involved in terrorism, war crimes, organized crime, or irregular migration. Working with our intelligence partners, the Immigration Intelligence Branch provides a focal point for supporting "intelligence-based" decision making on policies, programs, and cases.
• Migration Integrity Officers in key locations overseas work with international partners, local immigration and law enforcement agencies, and airlines to combat irregular migration, including people smuggling and trafficking. These officers also support document integrity and anti-fraud activities by detecting and intercepting fraudulent travel documents or fraudulently obtained travel documents.
• Regional Immigration Intelligence units in Canada provide intelligence support to field operations in Canada relating to terrorism, organized crime, war crimes, irregular migration, and document integrity.

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