On a strip in Adams Morgan, two miles north of where legislators pass laws to protect the nation’s borders, crews of illegal immigrants sell fake documents to help other illegal immigrants break those laws.
For two decades, the men have been peddlingtheir illicit wares on Columbia Road between 18th and 16th avenues, an unintended consequence of the last immigration reform, which required employees to provide documentation proving they could legally work in the U.S.
Since 2002, federal agents have hit them hard. They’ve made 187 arrests — including one kingpin known as El Virus — wiping out one operation entirely and forcing two other organizations to combine, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent James Spero.
A special project, called Operation Card Shark, was formed in the Metro area after two of the Sept. 11 hijackers were able to obtain fake documents in Virginia.
“We consider it to be a national security issue and a public safety issue,” Spero said. “We don’t take them lightly.”
But the men on Columbia Road are still there.
On a recent Sunday, about 10 men worked the block. Each had a job. A vendor signaled to passersby that he was open for business by flashing a C-sign and whispering “Mica,” Spanish slang for plastic or green card. A green card, Social Security card, immigration work permit or fake driver’s licenses goes for about $100. If a photo is needed, the buyer ducks into a shop that sells passport photos.
The vendor writes the information on a card-size manila envelope, then slips it to a runner, who takes off on a circuitous route to make sure he’s not being followed on his way to the machinist.
The machinist uses what the agents call a “lab in a bag” — uncut, blank, phony document stock smuggled in from Mexico, a typewriter, laminate machine, cutting board, Polaroid camera and blow-dryer. The machinist can stuff the equipment in a briefcase to make a quick getaway.
“The vendor may not know the machinist,” Spero said. “Don’t be fooled. These are criminal organizations.”
Each ring has its demarcated area. A local ring competes with a crew across the street that belongs to a national syndicate.
“It’s like Home Depot versus the neighborhood hardware store,” said Special Agent Heath Simon.
The nation’s biggest network, the Castorena Family Organization, operates ID mills in at least 50 cities, said the agents. The fake ID business is estimated to make tens of millions, if not billions, of dollars.
If a dispute arises between organizations, a boss from Mexico comes up to settle it, Simon said. Sometimes there’s violence.
All but one of the men arrested so far have been illegal immigrants from Mexico. About 60 have served jail time before being sent back. Some who have been deported return to their old fake ID crews and jobs, Simon said. The trade is also good for some of the strip’s businesses. Customers waiting hours for their IDs often shop in the stores, Simon said.
After a raid, Columbia Road “becomes a ghost town,” Simon said. Some stores let the men hide in their bathrooms or duck out back if needed, he said.
One neighbor said he’s frustrated at seeing the same men year after year: “I think we’re being really naive if we think that this group of guys is just providing IDs for hardworking illegals. It’s a mafia organization. They’re there to make money; they’re not there as humanitarians.”
Operation Card Shark
» In Operation Card Shark, which began in 2002, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents worked to combat sales of fake documents around Adams Morgan.
» The operation has been a model for task forces created in 10 U.S. cities in April.
» The agents have taken 10,000 fake documents off the streets.
At a glance
» Crews who sell fake IDs get to keep about 30 percent of the proceeds, agents told The Examiner.
» The take has generally not been enoughto tempt American citizens into the illicit trade.
