Abraham (Abe) Castano
Splendora,Texas
Summary
Experienced law enforcement professional with in-depth knowledge of immigration and federal criminal law. Skilled in investigations of immigration benefit fraud, document, testimony and criminal law. To include hands-on international terrorism and criminal investigations OCONUS. Complex and classified investigations of immigration and criminal violators resulted in convictions. Strong focus on achieving results and team collaboration. Communicate effectively, have the ability to quickly multitask, and employ logical reasoning to make informed decisions.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
FDNS IO Task Force Officer - Joint Terrorism Task Force
DHS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
05.2018 - Current
- Assigned to the Houston FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) as a Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) liaison - Task Force Officer.
- Investigate National Security cases, to include criminal, financial fraud, marriage fraud, immigration fraud, and denaturalization cases.
- Provide classified and unclassified briefings to FBI, DHS, USCIS, and OGA Senior Executive leadership.
- Interview and researching individuals suspected of illegally obtaining an immigration benefit. or pose a threat to National Security.
- Coordinate cross-departmental teams to streamline case processing workflows.
- Liaise with CIA, DOS, DOD, U.S. Marshal Service, DIA, HSI, ICE ERO, CBP, Texas DPS, Harris County Sheriff, Houston Police Department.
- Liaise with FBI divisions. Counterterrorism, Intelligence, Counterintelligence - China, Russia, Iran, Latin America, and Europe.
- Assist the FBI with trial case preparation for the Assistant U.S. Attorney's and the U.S. Attorney.
- Conduct in-depth research for complicated cases. To include case link and case threat analysis.
- Identify, articulate, and pursue suspected immigration benefit fraud, egregious public safety cases, and national security concerns.
- Analyzed current data trends to identify areas of new immigration fraud.
- Constantly develop effective research methods for immigration benefit programs.
Supervisory Immigration Officer (Acting)
USCIS
09.2022 - 12.2022
- Directed and assisted FDNS IO's in determining immigration benefit fraud.
- Informed FDNS IO's to conduct specific system checks to ensure accuracy of the immigration fraud investigation.
- Coordinated FDNS site visits related to business verifications and fraud.
- Liaised with ICE and other agencies when needed.
- Briefed upper management on delicate complicated cases that could lead to prosecution or could draw media attention.
- Planed long-range outlook related to work plans to determining the actions necessary to accomplish each objectives.
Immigration Services Officer II
DHS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
11.2017 - 05.2018
- Evaluated applications for immigration benefits, ensuring compliance with legal standards and regulations.
- Placed applicants under oath and asked a series of questions to determine the information they provided is correct and not fraudulent.
- Independently research, analyze, and interpret information from various sources and databases to determine if the correct benefit is granted.
- Collaborated with law enforcement agencies to gather information relevant to case adjudication.
- Reviewed and validate local, state, federal and foreign government documents to meet needed adjudication requirements.
Supervisory Immigration Analyst (Asylum)
DHS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Asylum)
11.2013 - 11.2017
- Discovered large-scale fraud from various Latin American countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Over 450 fraudulent Affirmative cases.
- Prepared reports and created work products based on analysis conducted from current, asylum trends.
- Work directly with ICE.
- Attended congressional meetings held in our jurisdiction.
- Answered questions from congressional aids.
- Attended management meetings and reported on current staff needs to include complex service scheduling needs.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Adviser GS 13 Equivalent
Fedsys
08.2012 - 10.2013
- Advised leadership to the Kabul International Airport authorities on the topics of fraudulent document identification, immigration activities, counter-narcotics, currency smuggling, compliance procedures and customs revenue generation.
- U.S. National Security policies were applied with international partners.
- Questioned foreign nationals in a war zone to obtain material facts.
- Taught a specialized Afghanistan unit, how to utilize scopes and computer software used to determine fraudulent documents.
- Briefed the DHS CBP Attaché.
- Provide detailed reports to CENTCOM.
- Informed Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officials with valuable, real-time information.
- Liaised, worked and trained with Afghanistan Agencies.
- Coordinated training with United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) Law Enforcement Division.
- Seized narcotics, illegal currency and documents.
Customs and Border Protection Officer
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
03.2005 - 08.2012
- Trained in sections 212, 237 and 240 of the INA to include Nationality Law.
- Arrested individuals for criminal violations.
- Seized money and narcotics.
- Detected marriage fraud, identified and seized fake visas and passports.
- Researched world travel patterns to identify potential fraud violators.
- Arrested and prosecuted foreign nationals whom falsely claimed U.S. citizenship.
- Placed subjects under oath and took sworn testimonies.
Infantry soldier/Squad leader
US Army
10.1996 - 10.1999
- Trained in Infantry tactics to include Desert, Jungle, Urban and Chemical/Biological warfare.
- Trained in hand to hand combat, small arms weapons, land mines, and various weaponry.
- Served in Operation Desert Fox.
Education
Some college - Criminal Justice
Lone Star Community College
Houston, TXLanguages
Spanish
Timeline
Supervisory Immigration Officer (Acting)
USCIS
09.2022 - 12.2022
FDNS IO Task Force Officer - Joint Terrorism Task Force
DHS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
05.2018 - Current
Immigration Services Officer II
DHS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
11.2017 - 05.2018
Supervisory Immigration Analyst (Asylum)
DHS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (Asylum)
11.2013 - 11.2017
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Adviser GS 13 Equivalent
Fedsys
08.2012 - 10.2013
Customs and Border Protection Officer
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
03.2005 - 08.2012
Infantry soldier/Squad leader
US Army
10.1996 - 10.1999
Some college - Criminal Justice
Lone Star Community College
Clearance
Top Secret SCI
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