U.S. & Australia Join Efforts to Validate Travel Documents

WASHINGTON, D.C. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announces a joint counter-terrorism passport alert system with Australia. Recently, the United States and Australia have begun piloting an enhancement to their existing border management systems. The pilot system known as the Regional Movement Alert List (RMAL) is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) counter-terrorism initiative that will allow the automated checking of each others lost, stolen or otherwise invalid passport records, and where appropriate prevents the use of these documents for travel. This system could identify up to three million lost or stolen passports across the Asia-Pacific region. This program is a giant step forward in eliminating document fraud and will help to combat terrorism and improve travel safety throughout the APEC region. This system will, from anywhere in the world, automatically share data on lost, stolen, or invalid documents, stated Commissioner Bonner. The RMAL will have up to date information and assist in the ability to detect and prevent the air travel of known or suspected terrorists. When fully developed, RMAL will enhance the effectiveness of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). RMAL has the potential to become an important part of the border and transportation security infrastructure of the region and is a specific security commitment that APEC Leaders called for in the Enhancing Human Security section of the 2003 Bangkok Declaration and 2004 Santiago Declaration. Airlines and passengers will not see any changes to current procedures, as the pilot will operate seamlessly with existing systems. Additional APEC Economies are expected to join in the future.