HomeBlogHeadlinesGlobal EntryFOIA Petitions for Trusted Traveler (Global Entry, SENTRI, NEXUS, etc…) Application Denials

FOIA Petitions for Trusted Traveler (Global Entry, SENTRI, NEXUS, etc…) Application Denials

  • November 16, 2012
  • Category: FAST, Global Entry, GOES, NEXUS
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Suppose that you are appealing a Global Entry denial.  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.  Here is the information on filing a FOIA.

What about if you want to examine a complete copy of your Trusted Traveler file?  This is where it gets trickier.  Typically, an applicant can look at his or her online GOES profile and print out copies of prior correspondence.  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?  As it stands, I would say that the answer to this question is NO.  The previous FOIA link above has a link within it entitled, “What Records Can CBP Provide Under FOIA?”    This page has the following information:

  • Note: If you are seeking information on a trusted traveler application denial, contact the relevant enrollment center.

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  The Ombudsman provided  me with a letter stating that Global Entry has been revoked due to the reasons referenced in a prior denial letter.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:  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.  As time goes by, I believe that more people will become dissatisfied with this arrangement.



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