General Information - Immigration Alien Transactions (IAQ/IAR)

Immigration Alien Transactions (IAQ/IAR)

The purpose of the Immigration Alien Transactions is to provide timely information on aliens suspected of criminal activity and status information of aliens under arrest. A query transaction (IAQ) searches multiple databases including NCIC and Triple I. The LESC staff responds to the requesting law enforcement agency (IAR).

The information may be used for the following purposes:

to assist with investigations.
to provide identification and background data on subjects for correctional departments.
to notify ICE of a subject's incarceration or placement on probation.

The Center operates on a 24 hour, seven days-a-week basis.

The LESC is currently located in Williston, Vermont.

For additional information, direct requests to:

Director
Law Enforcement Support Center
188 Harvest Lane
Williston, VT 05495
ORI: VTICE0900
Phone: (802) 872-6000 FAX: (802) 288-1222

Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the information to be provided by the LESC, only agencies authorized to request criminal record information over Nlets will be authorized to access the LESC. The LESC maintains a HELP file to provide additional information. It may be accessed by sending an "AM" message to AXADMHELP. Assistance is also available through an "AM" message sent to "AX".

Overview

All queries sent to the LESC MUST contain the required fields of information. Any optional information supplied in the query will increase the probability of finding a positive record and enable a more informative response to be returned. Response times will vary dependent upon the return of individual state criminal histories and the extensiveness of the query.

Immediately upon receipt of your inquiry, a computer-generated message acknowledging receipt will be automatically returned to your ORI.

LESC Files

The LESC searches multiple indices after receiving a query via Nlets. A brief description of these follows.

CENTRAL INDEX SYSTEM (CIS)

CIS is a centralized, computer-based information system that serves as the heart of USCIS mission support, both in areas of service benefits and law enforcement. The Central Index System contains data on the following:

lawful permanent residents
naturalized citizens
violators of immigration laws
aliens with Employment Authorization Document (EAD) information
others for whom the Service has opened alien files or in whom it has a special interest.

CIS provides several major capabilities, including

searches the alien database by multiple criteria
displays summary level data on the alien.

The major search keys are "Alien Registration Number (A Number)" and name. Variations of the Name Search are provided by allowing a direct search using Exact Name or a Sounds-like (Soundex) search using a similar sounding name of an alias name.

In addition, the Name Searches allow other identifying information as secondary search criteria such as: Date of Birth, Country of Birth and Files Control Office. Date of Birth is the most often used secondary search criterion.

COMPUTER LINKED APPLICATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CLAIMS)

CLAIMS is an application processing system that provides information concerning the receipt, adjudication, and notification processes for applicants and petitioners of USCIS benefits, such as Employment Authorization Documents, Permanent Residency, etc. The current CLAIMS implementation combines several systems that support these processing requirements.

This system also provides information on the current status of a pending application of the aforementioned USCIS benefits.

ENFORCE ALIEN REMOVAL MODULE EARM/EABM (ENFORCE)

EARM/EABM (ENFORCE) provides information on the status and disposition of deportation cases, and on the statistics and summary data representing cases by status type and other activities.

captures deportable data,
tracks aliens who are arrested, detained or formally removed from the country,
produces deportation forms and reports
makes the information accessible online to Deportation Officers and other ICE users.
maintains information on aliens detained by the Service and reports on this activity.

Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS SQ94)

TECS SQ94 contains arrival, departure, and ancillary information pertaining to nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States.

contains data on an individual's status
identifies individuals who may have over-stayed.
provides statistical information to ICE managers.
provides for queries based on biographical, classification, and citizenship data.

STUDENT and EXCHANGE VISITOR INFORMATION SYSTEM (SEVIS)

SEVIS is the primary vehicle for identifying, locating, and determining the status or benefits eligibility of non-immigrant students and their dependents. It also contains information for Non-Immigrant Exchange Visitors. Data is captured from forms relevant to foreign students and are available for query.

This data includes requests for extensions, change of status, transfers, and employment authorization.

SEVIS also maintains records on approved schools, school officials, and current or past violations.

Enterprise Citizenship and Immigration Services Centralized Operational Repository (eCISCOR (CLAIMS4))

eCISCOR (CLAIMS4) is a casework management system that tracks the naturalization process of aliens seeking United States Citizenship. The data is captured from forms and applications submitted by aliens. The data includes general biographical background information, addresses, processing dates, interview dates and the disposition or current status of the application for US Citizenship.

REFUGEE, ASYLUM, AND PAROLE SYSTEM (RAPS)

RAPS is a comprehensive case management system that tracks the Refugee, Asylum, and Parole process of aliens in the United States. The information contained the RAPS is obtained from forms, applications, and interviews with the alien. The case status is tracked throughout the cycle, showing the status of the alien at time of entry, and the completion of the process. The data includes general biographical background information, addresses, processing dates, interview dates, and information regarding the outcome of hearings.

UNITED STATES VISITOR AND IMMIGRANT STATUS INDICATOR TECHNOLOGY (US-VISIT)

Established in accordance with several Congressional mandates requiring that the Department of Homeland Security create an integrated, automated entry-exit system that records the arrival and departure of aliens, deploys equipment at all ports of entry to allow for the verification of aliens identities and the authentication of their travel documents through the comparison of biometric identifiers, utilizes an entry-exit system that records alien arrival and departure information from these biometrically authenticated documents.

PERSON CENTRIC QUERY SERVICE (PCQS)

A service that provides CIS status verifiers with the ability to submit a single query for all transactions involving an immigrant across a number of connected systems. PCQS returns a consolidated response of the immigrant's past interactions with the federal government as he/she passed through the U.S. immigration system. PCQS does not store data. PCQS serves as a conduit for the delivery of data stored in the connected systems.

ARRIVAL DEPARTURE INFORMATION SYSTEM (ADIS)

ADIS provides information gathered from Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Automated Biometric Identification System (US-Visit IDENT), US Visit Exit processing, SEVIS, CLAIMS and CCD (Consular Consolidated Database). Under the Basic Search option using a Name and DOB we are able to gather Arrival and Departure information for travelers entering or leaving the United States.

AUTOMATED TARGETING SYSTEM (ATS)

DHS and CBP operate the Automated Targeting System (ATS). As a decision support tool, ATS compares traveler, cargo and conveyance information against law enforcement, intelligence and other enforcement data using risk-based targeting scenarios and assessments.

AUTOMATED TARGETING SYSTEM/PASSENGER (ATS-P)

A web-based tool used to collect, analyze, and disseminate information for the identification of potential terrorists, transnational criminals and in some cases, other persons who pose a higher risk of violating U.S. law.

AUTOMATED TARGETING SYSTEM/Land (ATS-L)

Evaluates previous crossing records as well as internal and external data sources for targeting at the land border. ATS-L stores vehicle registration as well as registered owner data for U.S. plated vehicles and biographical information on the occupants of the vehicle collected through vehicle primary processing at land border ports of entry.

CONSULAR CONSOLIDATED DATABASE (CCDI)

Department of State system with Visa information on foreign travelers.

Query Requirements

All formatted inquiries MUST be sent to the LESC two-character address "AX".
All queries must contain AT LEAST the required information.
Optional fields increase the probability of finding a match. However, there is no requirement to use all the optional fields in order to get to the one needed. Any optional information supplied in the query will increase the probability of finding a positive record and enable a more informative response to be sent.
Nlets will perform the normal edits for required data, length and content.
When using the "Remarks" field, do not use periods to end sentences, as ICE's system will not process it correctly.

Name Structure

The usage of surnames from different countries can often be confusing. For example, Hispanics generally use both their fathers and mothers last name, giving them a double last name. The first name of this double last name is generally the most important name for record check purposes. If one does not know how to place these names in the name fields on inquiries, misses could occur.

Below is a short explanation of the construction of names often checked with USCIS, CBP and ICE indices.

HISPANIC NAMES:

HISPANIC FIRST NAMES:
Many Spanish first names consist of more than one word, for example, Maria de Los Angeles, Maria de la Luz, and Maria del Carmen. When written with a prepositional phrase, the name should be treated as one first name. If the name is not recorded with a prepositional phrase, for example, Maria Luz or Maria Carmen, it should be considered first and middle names.

HISPANIC SURNAMES:
Spanish and Hispanic persons customarily use the surnames of both parents. This double surname is derived from the first surname of the father and the first surname of the mother. Neither name is considered a middle name. The surname of the father precedes that of the mother. The two surnames may be connected by the word "y", which means "and." For example, Juan Gomez y Conde has Juan as a first name, Gomez as the surname of the father, and Conde as the surname of the mother. For recording purposes, all double last names are listed with the father's surname followed by the mother's surname. Juan Gomez y Conde would be
recorded as Juan Gomez Conde. The nationals of some South American countries do not, as a general rule, use both last names. If the subject comes from a country that uses both last names, but the subject only uses one, and it is his mother's surname, this will often indicate that the subject's parents were not married.

HISPANIC MARRIED NAMES FOR WOMEN:
When she marries, a woman commonly drops the surname of her mother and adds the first surname of her husband, preceded by the preposition "de." This
indicates she is the "wife of" that man. Maria Gomez Garcia, when married to Juan Martinez Ramirez, would become Maria Gomez de Martinez and will be recorded as Gomez de Martinez, Maria. Note that according to traditional Hispanic usage the woman's surname never changes. After admission to the United States, however, some women have adopted the American custom of using the husband's surname as their own. Maria Gomez de Martinez may begin to give her name as Martinez, Maria Gomez.

ASIAN (CHINESE) NAMES:

When a sequence of two, three or four names appear, no part of which can be recognized as the first name, middle name or surname, the first part only is
identified as the surname and the next parts used as the first name and middle name. When one of more names follows the surname, use only the first as the surname. Sometimes the surname will be in capital letters and the other names will be connected by a hyphen. In such cases you may find the surname written either
before or after the other names.

Name: Surname:

Low Tai Yat
Harry Yat Bun Sing
Soong Mei Ling

Low
Yat
Soong

MIDDLE EASTERN NAMES:

When a sequence of two, three or four names appear, no part of which can be recognized as the first name, middle name or surname, the last part only is identified
as the surname and the first part used as the first name.

Name: Surname: Mohammed Ali Jafir Jafir When a surname is preceded by an article such as "El" or "Al", it is considered to be part of the surname. Name: Surname: Yousef Ben El Gazar El Gazar

Query Help

The LESC maintains a HELP file to provide additional information and may be accessed by sending an administrative message (AM) to AXADMHELP. Assistance is also available through an administrative message (AM) sent to "AX".

More information on help files can be located in Help File Transactions.

Technical Notes

This section provides guidance for data codes and query and response field requirements.

Query Field Requirements

Below are explanations of the required fields and optional fields that must be completed for an LESC inquiry (IAQ).

XML Tag: Legacy
Prefix: Field Size: Data Requirements: Translation:

n2:PurposeCode

PUR/ 1 Must be "C" or "F" Purpose code.

See Introduction Page

for more information.

n2:ResponseAttentionDescriptionText

ATN/ 30 Alpha Characters Name of individual
making inquiry

nc:TelephoneNumberFullID

PHN/ 20 Area code followed by
telephone # Prefix for phone number
of inquirer

nc:PersonFullName

NAM/ 30 Alpha Characters Full name of subject

nc:Date

DOB/ 8 ccyy-mm-dd Date of birth

nc:PersonSexCode

SEX/ 1 M, F or U Sex field

j4:PersonBirthPlaceCode

POB/ 2 Standard NCIC code;
see NCIC Manual Place of birth

nc:StatusText

CUS/ 1

Text:
Must be Y or N.
XML:
Must be "In Custody"
or "Not In Custody".

Indicates if subject is in
custody

j:ChargeNCICCode

OFF/ 4

See NCIC manual.
* If no code is
available use generic
code of "0399"

NCIC offense code, most
serious charge

FOLLOWED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONAL FIELDS:

IAQ Field Requirements: XML Tag: Legacy
Prefix: Field Size: Data Requirements: Translation:

<nc:PersonOtherIdentification>
    <nc:IdentificationID>ARN123</nc:IdentificationID>
    <nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>AR</nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>
</nc:PersonOtherIdentification>

ARN/ 8 or 9 Numeric

Alien registration number
IMPORTANT!
This is a key ICE/USCIS file
identifier; use if known

<j:PersonFBIIdentification>
<nc:IdentificationID>FBI123</nc:IdentificationID>
</j:PersonFBIIdentification>

FBI/ 30 See NCIC Manual FBI number

<j:PersonStateFingerprintIdentification>
<nc:IdentificationID>SID123</nc:IdentificationID>
</j:PersonStateFingerprintIdentification>

SID/ 10 See NCIC Manual State ID #

<nc:DriverLicenseIdentification>
<nc:IdentificationID>DL123123</nc:IdentificationID>
</nc:DriverLicenseIdentification>

OLN/ 20 See NCIC Manual Operator's license number

<nc:PersonHeightMeasure>
<nc:MeasurePointValue>6.2</nc:MeasurePointValue>
</nc:PersonHeightMeasure>

HGT/ 6-8 See NCIC Manual Height

<nc:PersonWeightMeasure>
<nc:MeasurePointValue>XXX</nc:MeasurePointValue>
</nc:PersonWeightMeasure>

WGT/ 1 See NCIC Manual Weight

<nc:PersonEyeColorText>

EYE/ 2 Standard NCIC code;
see NCIC Manual Eye color

<n2:PersonMother>
  <nc:PersonGivenName>
    <nc:PersonMaidenName>
    <nc:PersonFullName>

MMN/ 1-15 See NCIC Manual Mother's maiden name

<n2:PersonFather>
<nc:PersonGivenName> 
  <nc:PersonSurName>
</nc:PersonFullName>

MFN/ 1-10 See NCIC Manual Mother's first name

<j:PersonParent>
  <j:PersonName>
    <j:PersonGivenName>

FLN/ 1-15 See NCIC Manual Father's last name

      <j:PersonSurName>
    </j:PersonName>
  </j:PersonParent>

FFN/ 1-10 See NCIC Manual Father's first name

<nc:PersonOtherIdentification>
    <nc:IdentificationID>MNU123</nc:IdentificationID>
    <nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>OTHER</nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>
</nc:PersonOtherIdentification>

MNU/ 1-15 See NCIC Manual Miscellaneous number

<j:PersonSSNID>

SOC/ 9 See NCIC Manual Social security number

<nc:PersonOtherIdentification>
    <nc:IdentificationID>PP123</nc:IdentificationID>
    <nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>PP</nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>
</nc:PersonOtherIdentification>

PPN/ 1-15 See NCIC Manual Passport number

<nc:PersonOtherIdentification>
    <nc:IdentificationID>BKN123</nc:IdentificationID>
    <nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>ID</nc:IdentificationCategoryDescriptionText>
</nc:PersonOtherIdentification>

BKN/ 1-15 See NCIC Manual

Booking number
IMPORTANT!
Booking numbers are required
for inquiries from correctional
or jail facilities

<n2:Remarks/>

REM/ 1-300 Free text Remarks section to include
relevant information

Responses

The LESC will provide an automated acknowledgment notifying the inquiring agency that his/her inquiry has been received and is being processed.

The positive message acknowledgment will read as follows:

YOUR MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED BY THE ICE-LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT CENTER. WE WILL PROCESS YOUR INQUIRY AND RETURN A RESPONSE UPON COMPLETION OF THE ICE DATABASE SEARCH. END

The first part of each response will include the actual inquiry that was sent. This will enable the inquirer to match up their inquiry with its response.
A summarization of information found during the search will be returned in a formatted response.
The final segment of the response will be completed using the message "END". This will denote that no other information on this inquiry is forthcoming.
If additional information or clarification of a response is required, you may contact the LESC at VTICE0900 utilizing the standard administrative message ("AM") format.
Additional contact information may appear at the end of the LESC response regarding enforcement offices in the jurisdiction of the inquirer.