Before they can receive asylum, every applicant must undergo a security background check. But what exactly does the government check? And how can they learn about an applicant’s background when she spent most of her life outside the United States?
To me, these security background checks have always been a bit of a mystery. I’ve heard that the checks involve multiple agencies (FBI, State Department, etc.) and multiple data bases, but I did not know much more than that. Now, a recent article has shed some light on at least one type of background check: The FBI’s Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) operates the nation’s “bomb library,” which keeps data on explosive devices used in terrorist attacks. TEDAC is directed by Greg Carl and operates out of Quantico, Virginia.
TEDAC analyzes the “remnants of improvised explosive devices… in hopes of recovering latent prints from the insurgent bomb makers who crafted them.” The Center has created a “comprehensive database of known terrorists for all law enforcement, the U.S. intelligence community and the military to share.” The Center has received evidence from the “underwear bomber,” the Boston Marathon bombing, and from attacks all across the world. The evidence collected by TEDAC comes from “bombings in as many as 25 countries from as far as the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia, in addition to the United States:”
More than 100,000 boxes of evidence have been collected so far. They contain more than a million fragments fashioned from ordinary objects, which are barcoded and labeled before going through a wide array of forensic examinations, including toolmark identification, which allows matches of fragments to be made. Every scrap is searched for clues to a bomber’s identity.
The Center’s work seems to be effective. “According to Mary Kathryn Book, a physical scientist with the lab, ‘Approximately 60% of the time, we are able to recover prints from these items through fingerprint processing. And then later these prints are searched in our database and we attempt to identify the individuals who left them.'”
One project that is directly relevant to refugees and asylum seekers is the ongoing examination of IED material from Iraq to determine if “any Iraqi refugees relocated in the United States may be tied to IED attacks, as was the case with two Iraqi refugees based in Kentucky.” (I wrote about this issue here).
Unfortunately, our Congress has decided to cut funds from TEDAC (well, “decided” might not be accurate – they simply slashed and burned the budget indiscriminately). For all of us, there is the concern that we will be less safe due to these budget cuts. For asylum seekers fleeing persecution, it likely also means more delays for security background checks. This means longer insecurity and separation from family. In the unlikely event that Congress gets its act together, we can only hope that TEDAC will receive the funds it needs to keep operating effectively.
Hello,
is background check for immigration court same as for renewing Work permit?, is there anyway i figure it out if its ready or not by calling DHS?
I think the background check is much more extensive for immigration court. You can call DHS to ask about whether it is complete, but I think they normally do not run the check until shortly before the individual hearing. You can find the number for DHS if you follow the link under Resources called DHS Office of the Chief Counsel. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
If someone fired base on a misdemeanor from her work but his company does not press charge against him and just fired him! Does it show in background check and does it effect on his asylum case!?
I do not know whether that would show up in the background check. I imagine that would happen only if the company somehow reported it to the government or an outside agency of some kind. Some forms ask a question such as “Did you ever commit a crime for which you were not convicted?” The asylum officer may also ask this question. I think you should consult with an attorney about the specific problem, so you are prepared to answer this question when the time comes. Take care, Jason
I was trying to delete my question but it is impossible. May I ask you delete my questions?
Hello!
Thank you very much for your time and advise.
My question is : background check is only criminal record or something else . How about UN and other country records? Can they find anything on oversees records using applicants first, last name and finger print .
Thank you again your help!
Hi Jason,
Thank you for all the hard work.
I was recently approved by immigration judge for asylum and DHS representative waived the appeal – it took years but i am so thankful.
ICE scanned my fingerprints prior to this.
Are the background checks ran by ICE or DHS prior to immigration judge’s decision making? Since I had a small speeding ticket which I’d paid for.
I was also fired due not following company’s policy, unintentionally. I worked at a call center and took hundreds of calls weekly.
They consider forgetting to mentioning a particular adapter or running the credit check without hearing the “yes” from the customer (despite being given all their information) a “fraud.” This happened a couple of times and most of the agents being fired on a weekly basis have this term on their write ups.
I know this is internal terminology and doesn’t exhibit ones true moral standing, however, I will be applying for i94 soon and scheduled an INFOPASS appointment.
Will the above work related mistake be reflected on my background check?
Thank you so much,
Al
I doubt the speeding ticket or work issue would have any affect on your status (or even appear in the background check). In any case, you have asylum, and the only way to lose that would involve reopening your case with the judge and trying to take it away. Based on what you said here, there are no worries about that. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much, it puts my mind at ease. You have a wonderful day Sir.
Thank you Jason .
How long security back ground check is taking .the longest one ?
The longest ones we have seen are 3 years and stilt waiting, and I think it can take even longer than that. Fortunately, this situation is fairly rare. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I have a question about the USCIS background checks. I have recently received an MTA yellow ticket for fare evasion in NYC subway. I was told by the police officer that this violation is similar to parking ticket and that it doesn’t appear on any criminal record. I wasn’t arrested nor fingerprinted. I payed the fine to MTA immediately and now anxious if it will show up on any searches that the Asylum Office might be doing on me. At the MTA office I was told that the record of me paying the fine would stay in the City Hall database for seven years, which is a civil records database. So, I’m wondering is there a chance that the USCIS will find out this information when doing background checks on me? Since I wasn’t fingerprinted or arrested, it shouldn’t show up on the FBI records. However, I’m not sure about the “FBI Name Check” which collects different types of record on asylum applicants.
I do not know, but I would assume that it does. It will not hurt your case unless they think you are lying about it. It is best to tell them and submit a copy of the ticket. That way, they will not think you are lying. You should probably talk to a lawyer about this, just to make sure it is only a ticket, as I do not know, and sometimes the advice from the police is not correct. Take care, Jason