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OSI heads joint worksite enforcement operation

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  • By Ralph Monson
  • Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker Air Force Base officials fired another warning shot at anyone considering conducting illegal activities Jan. 12, authorizing a special joint operation to detect and deter fraudulent access to the installation. 

Headed by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Operation Public Law participants secured six private-contractor construction sites on Tinker and validated access authorization for more than 50 sub-contractor employees. 

The worksite enforcement operation force included approximately 50 security and law enforcement officials representing the Air Force and ICE. The operation also included several law enforcement personnel from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office and neighboring community police units. 

"Our posture on force protection and security will always be proactive," said Col. Mark Correll, 72nd Air Base Wing and installation commander, shortly after authorizing the third security and law enforcement special operation in the past five months. "Tinker is a national defense asset and we will neither wait for an accident to occur nor tolerate any activity that could compromise its security of our people's safety." 

Lt. Col. Brian Dubroff, 72nd Security Forces commander, said a recent spike in the number of people attempting to enter the installation with bogus identification led base officials to authorize the special operation. 

"We have caught a significant number of illegal aliens attempting to get on base to work for sub-contractors," explained the colonel. "We needed to see how well our detection program is working. This operation shows that it is working well." 

OSI Detachment 114 Special Agent in Charge Jack Angelo stressed that while there is no indication any of the illegal aliens had any ties to terrorist organizations, the possibility that unauthorized individuals could gain access to the installation through sub-contractor employment is an unacceptable risk. 

Mr. John Chakwin, special agent in charge of the ICE office if Investigations in Dallas, Texas, said the Jan. 12 action is part of the agencies critical infrastructure worksite enforcement operation. Under this program, ICE works closely with industries such as airports, power plants, oil refineries and military bases to secure them from the risk of terrorist attacks posed by unauthorized workers employed in secure areas of our nation's critical infrastructure facilities .

This worksite enforcement operation is part of the Secure Border Initiative, a comprehensive multi-year plan by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal immigration. 

"Under SBI, Homeland Security seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently," said Mr. Rusnok. "SBI also involves strong interior enforcement efforts, including enhanced worksite enforcement investigations and intensified efforts to track down and remove illegal aliens inside this country." 

Special Agent Angelo said the joint operation reflects the continued commitment of senior installation officials to detect and deter illegal activity on Tinker. It also demonstrates the capability of federal, military and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate and execute complex security operations. 

"Operation Public Law sends a strong message to contractors and sub-contractors that the U.S. Government will not tolerate the use of illegal aliens in the installation workforce," said Special Agent Angelo. "Offenders will be identified and prosecuted."