- November 16, 2012
- Category: FAST, Global Entry, GOES, NEXUS
Suppose that you are appealing a Global Entry denial. Â If you do not have a criminal record, your main questions would next be do I have an unknown customs violation or what information is in my Global Entry file?
For a customs violation, you can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) petition. Â Here is the information on filing a FOIA.
What about if you want to examine a complete copy of your Trusted Traveler file? Â This is where it gets trickier. Â Typically, an applicant can look at his or her online GOES profile and print out copies of prior correspondence. Â The GOES profile, however, is not always complete.
Can an applicant file a FOIA for his or her Global Entry or other Trusted Traveler program file? Â As it stands, I would say that the answer to this question is NO. Â The previous FOIA link above has a link within it entitled, “What Records Can CBP Provide Under FOIA?” Â Â This page has the following information:
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The page then lists a link for the relevant enrollment centers for Global Entry, SENTRI, FAST Canada/Mexico, & NEXUS.
I will relay you the basics of a case I am working on currently.  My client had his Global Entry revoked by CBP, but does not know why.  I contacted the Global Entry Enrollment Center.  They said to contact the CBP Ombudsman.  The Ombudsman provided  me with a letter stating that Global Entry has been revoked due to the reasons referenced in a prior denial letter.  When I asked the Ombudsman about the prior denial letter, the Ombudsman said to look on the GOES profile.  The GOES profile did not have that prior denial letter.  I mentioned this to the Ombudsman, but they mentioned that ‘no further information would be provided.’  I filed a complaint with CBP.gov and eventually spoke to a manager there.  The manager stated he would email the Ombudsman about the issue, but his main suggestion was for me to file a FOIA.  So, if I want a copy of the full Global Entry records, I have to look on the CBP web page for FOIA procedures, which states that instead of filing a FOIA, I should contact the Global Enrollment center, which will refer me to the CBP Ombudsman….
The Trusted Traveler Program has a problem: Â it is run by a law enforcement agency that sells a retail privilege(Card Holders get through the lines quicker), but absolutely does not want to direct any resources towards customer service. Â As time goes by, I believe that more people will become dissatisfied with this arrangement.