US Joins Forces With Sierra Leone To Crack Down Illegal Passports Holders.

By Ferdinand Olise

The United States (US) Embassy Assistant Regional Security Investigator in Sierra Leone, Kristen Hale, has paid a courtesy call on the Chief Immigration Officer (CIO), Mr. Alusine Kanneh, and deliberated on the issue of alleged Sierra Leonean nationals who have no legal rights to remain in the US under the categories; Foreign National Offenders, Failed Asylum Seekers and over-stayers.

Ms. Hale who made the visit on October 25, 2023, assured the Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Kanneh, of his support in the area of cooperation of immigration active participation in the interview process of the alleged Sierra Leoneans in the US.

She informed the CIO that the US Embassy Regional Security is ready to work with the Immigration Department to address the establishment of periodic information, visa refusals of applicants, and providing counterfeit supporting documents.

“For regular engagement with your office, potential training opportunities for the Sierra Leone Immigration Department is needed. The US Government is strongly working towards enhancing the capacity of Immigration Offices across Africa especially, in terms of border management.

“It is my job to talk to the head office to fix some of these problems, and I hope we will be able to address the historic issue of people obtaining illegal passports” she said.

Kristen Hale further stated that one of the reasons for visiting the CIO was to see how they can work together in cracking down illegal passports from people who do not qualify to have a Sierra Leonean passport.

She intimated that as an investigator, they find it difficult to investigate cases of possession of illegal passports from people in the US, stressing that with the support of the Immigration Department, their work will be made easy.

According to her, they have been supporting the Immigration office over the years, noting that capacity training is important when to handle counterfeit documents.

The Chief Immigration Officer, Mr Alusine Kanneh, commended the US for their relentless support to the Sierra Leone Immigration Department over the years.

Mr Kanneh underscored the need for collaboration with the US Embassy in Sierra Leone, and that the US Government has played pivotal roles in discouraging people who are in the habit of possessing illegal passports.

He appealed to the US Embassy to continue to support the Immigration Office in capacity training for its staff, noting that, immigration issues are very complex issues that cannot be easily addressed.
He encouraged the US Embassy Regional Security Investigator to have discussions with the US Ambassador for further discussions with respect to migration issues.

He further requested the US Embassy Regional Security Investigator to have further discussions in investigating Foreign National Offenders, Failed Asylum Seekers, and over stayers.