INS Reportedly Begins Inspecting Yemenis’ Baggage More Closely
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WASHINGTON — The Immigration and Naturalization Service has told agents to inspect baggage belonging to Yemeni citizens for large sums of money, thermos bottles and night-vision goggles, a government official said Tuesday.
Agents were instructed to thoroughly search baggage belonging to Yemenis entering and leaving the U.S., the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A recent raid on an apartment in the Northeast where a number of Yemenis lived netted thermos bottles outfitted with wires and batteries, the official said.
An INS spokesman declined to say whether Yemenis were being subjected to more thorough searches, though he confirmed such searches take place.
“We do at times conduct these heightened levels of inspection activities when provided intelligence or investigative information either that we’ve developed ourselves or that has been provided to us,” said Russell Bergeron, the spokesman.
Yemenis carrying diplomatic passports were exempt from the INS searches, CBS News said.
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