DHS TRIP Redress & Trusted Traveler (Global Entry/SENTRI/NEXUS) Denials

I have recently been able to reinstate Trusted Traveler privileges for two of my clients through only filing a DHS Trip Redress.

The main advantage of only filing a DHS Trip Redress is the turnaround time.  Submitting a Reconsideration Request to the CBP Ombudsman’s office currently takes a minimum of six months.  The Ombudsman’s office appears to be overwhelmed by correspondence from Trusted Traveler members seeking reinstatement.  From the national liaison meeting I went to in November 2014, one of the problems is that some members are writing to them practically every week asking for updates on their requests.  It takes time to go through all this correspondence.

Both of my clients had been revoked or denied from the Trusted Traveler program due to similar reasons.  I would characterize their situations as ‘Misidentification‘ denials.  One of my clients had various experiences at airports indicating that CBP might have been confusing him for someone else.  After reviewing the Freedom of Information Act results for my other client, it became apparent that his Global Entry denial did not match up with his travel records.  That appeared to be another case of misidentification.

In both cases, I submitted a carefully worded DHS Trip Redress.  Once DHS made corrections in its database, my clients received update notices from GOES (Global Online Enrollment System) indicating that their accounts have been updated.  They went for their interviews and they now have their Global Entry privileges back!