3 Syrians With False Docs Arrested at SXM?

I don't know if this is for real or not. I don't know if sxminfo.fr is a credible site. I don't know if Soualiga Newsday is a credible site. Both are reporting the same thing.

http://www.sxminfo.fr/103601/15/11/2015/...e-sint-marteen/

http://www.soualiganewsday.com/local/sou...e-security.html

There was no intent to joke. I arrive in SXM today, and take security issues seriously.

Essentially the same story in the Daily Herald:

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/53...false-documents

We flew to Canada last night. Just a heads up, we had to produce a second photo id & they looked at each person carefully, hats off & we had to show passport to 6 people before boarding the plane. Slow line as people were digging into their wallets to find second id. Hope this helps somebody.

Great work by St. Maarten immigration for catching these three Syrians. They may not at all be terrorists and possibly could be refugees trying to escape from Greece, but they did not have legal documents, so they were trying to enter the country illegally. Haiti did not pick them up but St. Maarten did! Good job SXM!

Checking two forms of ID is probably a good idea right now.
Glad to hear you arrived home safely.

Glad to hear you arrived home safely, also.

The majority of Syrian refugees probably do not have the funds to pay for a trip from Greece-to-Haiti-to-SXM. I wonder if they traveled to the island to hide out for a while if connected to terrorist activities. Huge congratulations to the airport staff for apprehending these guys. The entire world is vulnerable, even paradise.

I got stopped in a police control on Airport road late Sunday afternoon...make sure you drive with your documents

I always wonder, when people say 'always make sure you drive with your documents' - exactly what documents are they speaking of? Drivers license is a given and the car rental receipts, I'm guessing, too, but is anything else required? Perhaps a copy of your passports? It's never, in 43 years been an issue for us in the past, but then, the times have never been quite like they are today. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I was thinking the same thing. I've always been told to leave the passport in the safe, to never travel around with it, but do keep a copy in case.

Pat, we keep the actual passports in the room safe, but I always have copies of each with me.
I also have the passport control app on my iPhone which has the number. Picture of the passports are also saved on th phone, as well as an additional picture of my drivers license.
The person driving the car does of course have their license with them, and the rental car agreement.
I also have flight information if they need to know for immigration that I am leaving., or when and how I arrived...especially if it may have been via ferry or boat.

OMGoodness, if only I was all thaaaaaaat organized!! I'm lucky if I even remember to bring the cell phone! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Just kidding - about the above, anyway, but beyond our licenses for id purposes, and the anticipated dollars for the day and of course, the car rental papers in the glove box, we've never carried the copies of our passport in the past. Thanks for the heads-up and now I've got one more thing to worry/think about! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Note to self - make extra copies of both passports.

And remember, when you make copies of the passports, they cannot be in color, and the size must be different, at least in the US.

Really?! Thank you for that info. My copier here at home only does B & W so that's not a problem and I think I can adjust the sizing. Another note to self......

No, that is not true.

When I went to \Staples about 4 years ago, that is what they told me.

Someone here posted a link from the Passport website, I think it was, that said that was false.

This, of course is very scary. Who has forged passports?! Certainly no one I would want to cross paths with.
A lot of good information here about keeping our papers with us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thanks.gif" alt="" />
No place is immune even our little piece of paradise.
If you see something, say something.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Was that a min wage part time employee or a representative of the passport agency? Big difference.

That is from traveltips/usatoday

..and...the US Government site travel.state.gov RECOMMENDS that you make a copy of your passport. Nothing said about size or color limitations

Suspects were scheduled to appear in court today

I know you're an organized Lady! You can do it.
Take the phone snaps now. Make notes of your itinerary, and have it in the Notes app on your phone as well.

If you do any boat excursions that go to Anguilla they complete a passenger list and request passport information. I like using my paper copy as opposed to carrying my actual passport (especially if it's a smaller boat that, oh I don't know...sinks...lol).

If you look at the Department of State's web site, it says to make a copy of your passport, but nothing about color or resizing it. See:

Traveler's Check List.

Oh yeah, thanks for posting that ChiTownHarry.....it just reminded me of where it is that I place the other copies that I make of the passports:

One in the checked luggage, one with me, and I leave a copy at home on the counter for the person watching the house.

"No known indications of planned terrorism"

Can't see what the issue is here. Three people from a terrorist generating country, maybe traveled from Syria to somewhere to Haiti using their fake Greek passports and travel on to SXM (part of which is France). Probably just couldn't get a direct flight from Syria to SXM to use their timeshare.

Really? Key word is "known"...walks like a duck, talks like a duck......

Bet they just get sent back ...to somewhere...maybe a target country of their choice <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

...and I realize that just because they are Syrians doesn't mean their expedition originated in their home country

Not sure I would put a copy of your passport in CHECKED luggage.. Definitely make copies and take with you. Definitely you're supposed to mark your luggage, including inside, with your name and contact info, but I don't think I would put a copy of my passport in checked luggage. US passports are fairly hard to fake, so it would have to be a pretty good forger, but don't think I'd give them that opportunity.

Yeah, I was always super leery of most things like that. But it's black and white, and the watermarks pop up all over it as a copy. Good luck Mr. Forger who is certainly way more advanced in sophistication than my crumpled copy.

If flight crew on Air Force One give up their passport when checking into certain hotels in China, I think I'm ok. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Prepared by the State Dept.: page 13 discusses a copy in luggage, and I think it's page 30? that discusses turning over your passport if it's that countries law.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/19795.pdf

Well, you're probably right, as far as forging it, but I am thinking now the bigger threat might be identity theft.. I wouldn't want anyone to even have the number, that was a bad guy, just by stealing my checked bag.

Would any agency or boat excursion accept a photocopy of a passport for anything? It could have been photocopied by someone & put back. Right?

I don't know. I do know it's a lot easier to get a replacement REAL passport if you have a copy of it.

Syria has been in chaos for years. Getting a passport - particularly if you are not part of the ruling clique - may be close to impossible. So your only, option if you want to travel, is to get a forged passport. Many Jews escaped Nazi Germany with forged papers because the Nazis would not issue them legal ones.

This story in the Daily Herald has a quote in which the St. Maarten Immigration and Border Protection Service expects all visitors to carry their passports at all times.

I agree Carol. I feel no need to have a copy of my passport in checked luggage. It is only required that you have your name and address on a paper inside. Copies of passports are to be carried on your person and the actual passports are to be in safe keeping during your travels on the island. If the police ask for the actual passport, they will have to wait until I deliver it to them.

That is not odd or unusual. Most countries, including the USA, technically require all foreign nationals to carry their passports with them at all times.

Many of us do not do that when visiting the US and other countries.

Many legitimate refugee have spent their life savings to get forged Syrian passports to get away from the terrorists - much like the Jews referenced above. Much easier, I guess, to assume they had bad intentions which maybe they did, the point being we don't know. And then quickly move to arguing over whether or not to photocopy passports in what size/color, etc. they should be. Jeesh.

We travel with photo copies of our passports and drivers license. When in St Martin we, we keep them with the car rental papers in the car. We are especially happy the Gendarmes are making random roadside traffic stops.

Bob

The thread was about passports to begin with, and I have no problem with that discussion in this thread. As you said, there really is no way to know what these people's intentions were, so anything that is posted here would be pure speculation. Regardless, time to end this one here, as politics (and religion) are best left in more appropriate venues for discussion than a travel board.