Category Archives: Department of Homeland Security

Counterfeit driver’s licenses continue to be imported (and seized).

April 28, 2020 By in Customs Lawyer, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
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Image of seized ID’s, source: CBP.gov

In the past 18, Dallas CBP officers seized over 2000 counterfeit driver’s licenses from overseas, with 900 of the fake ID’s seized in the past 6 months. Most of the fake ID’s are hidden in contents of packages within larger items in the package. In an attempt to discourage the purchase of fake ID’s overseas, CBP officers noted that providing personal information to counterfeiters also carry a risk of the peron’s identity personal information being shared. From the media release, local law enforcement contacted the purchasers of the counterfeit ID cards and warned them of the risks of counterfeiters.

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In situations like this, the importer of record will not be getting these cards released and the case will likely be referred to HSI as part of a potential criminal case.

If you or someone you know receives a letter from CBP or Homeland Security Investigation, contact experienced customs attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Trump administration focusing on stopping online sale of counterfeit goods.

January 30, 2020 By in Department of Homeland Security, trademark, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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Photo by Lovefreund

According to a report released by the Department of Homeland Security last week, the Trump administration is taking “immediate action” against the sale of counterfeit goods by fining and issuing other penalties to online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon.

Click here for the full report of the “Combating Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods – Report to the President of the United States“.

Other parts of the plan include suspending repeat offenders, issuing civil fines and penalties and investigating and prosecuting intellectual property violations throughout the supply chain. While the goal of the new plan was in the report, details of actual new measures to be taken were not.

The recently issued report is a result of President Trump’s call to action for the Department of Homeland Security to look at slowing the sale of counterfeit goods on third-party websites like eBay and Amazon.

Last year, the US government seized over 28,000 shipments containing counterfeit goods valued at about $1.5 billion dollars.

If you were the importer of record and received a seizure notice for importing goods that were determined to be counterfeit by Customs – contact experienced seizure attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, dh@gjatradelaw.com.

FCC opens comment period regarding Huawei and ZTE’s risk to national security.

January 7, 2020 By in Department of Homeland Security, FCC, Huawei, national security, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

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Photo by Sparsh Karki on Pexels.com

In November of last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Report and Order preventing US service providers from using the Federal government’s $8.5 billion Universal Service Fund (USF) to buy telecommunications equipment and services from Chinese companies that may pose national security risks to the US. The Report and Order specifically names two Chinese-based companies: Huawei and ZTE.

Last week, the FCC opened a comment period to allow public comments about their initial determination that Huawei and ZTE pose a risk to national security. Comments are due on February 3rd and after the comment period, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will release a public notice with their final decision.

In response to the FCC’s November Report and Order, Huawei filed a lawsuit in December in the US 5th Circuit claiming the order is unlawful and the FCC lacks authority to make national security designations.

If you would like to file a comment, please contact experienced trade and customs attorney David Hsu by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com, or dh@gjatradelaw.com.

US Customs and Border Protection and Mexican Counterparts sign Memo of Understanding.

April 3, 2018 By in Department of Homeland Security, SAT, Uncategorized Tags: , Leave a comment

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Credit: DHS Official Photo/Jetta Disco)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on March 26, 2018, that U.S. Customs and  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan and the Tax Administration Service (SAT) Chief Osvaldo Santin signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on customs issues and trade enforcement.

The MOU/MOC included commitments to cooperate on issues such as:

  1. increasing trade and customs compliance;
  2. battling cross-border illicit acitivites;
  3. cargo pre-inspection; and
  4. commitment to work together on unified cargo processing;
  5. collaboration on agriculture safety;
  6. collaboration on agriculture quarantine inspections and;
  7. information sharing.

The official homeland security press release can be found here.

With an ever increasing trade of goods between the US and Mexico, it’s great that CBP and SAT will work together to improve our trade relationship with Mexico.

What is a Customs “Notice of Seizure and Intent to Forfeit (CAFRA)”?

February 13, 2018 By in Attorney, Customs Lawyer, Department of Homeland Security, Import Export Attorney, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

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After your property is seized at an airport, border crossing or any of the other 400 ports of entry into the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will send you a “Notice of Seizure and Intent to Forfeit (CAFRA)” by certified mail, return receipt requested to the address you provided to CBP at the time of the seizure.

DHS and CBP are required by law to send you the notice under 19 USC 1607 and 19 CFR 162.45. The notice tells you that DHS has seized the items and will intend to “forfeit and sell, or otherwise dispose of according to law”. The final disposition of your seized property ultimately depends on the item seized.

If you do not receive a notice by mail, you can still file a claim within 30 days from the date of the publication of the CBP “Official Notification” posted on the forfeiture.gov website.

If you have had currency, suspected trademarked goods, or any other property seized by Customs, call David Hsu, an experienced customs and trade law attorney who works for you to get your hard earned property and money back. Call or email anytime, 832-896-6288, attorney.dave@yahoo.com.