BORDERPOL - Experts & Thought Leaders

Peter will be invaluable in improving the company's legal and regional representation in the Americas The Executive Committee of BORDERPOL is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Vincent as the BORDERPOL Director Counselor for International Policy. Thomas Tass, Director General of BORDERPOL said “We are delighted to have Peter on board as he brings a wealth of experience to the organization and will be invaluable in improving our legal and regional representation in the Americas. He is also a fluent Spanish speaker which will aid us with our aim of extending our reach into South America.” Peter commented "I am truly honored and privileged to have been appointed as the BORDERPOL Director Counselor for International Policy, I have long admired the organization for the incredible work it does to balance counterterrorism concerns with humane approaches to complicated border issues." Previous Roles Peter S. Vincent is the General Counsel of Thomson Reuters Special Services, LLC (TRSS), a U.S. subsidiary of Thomson Reuters. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of senior executive and legal positions in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining TRSS in February 2015, Peter Vincent was the Principal Legal Advisor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In addition, he served as ICE’s Senior Counselor for International Policy, where he advised the DHS Office of the Secretary and the ICE Office of the Director on issues related to the formulation and execution of the agency’s international diplomatic engagement. Prior to that, from November 2011 through July 2013, he served as the Acting Director of ICE’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). With attachés in 75 offices in 48 countries, including 7 combatant commands, HSI OIA is the largest international investigative component within DHS. From November 2006 through May 2009, Peter Vincent served with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, first as the Assistant Judicial Attaché and then as the Judicial Attaché. There, he advised DOJ, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense and various law enforcement and intelligence-gathering agencies on matters concerning extradition, terrorist organizations, money laundering, mutual legal assistance and narco-trafficking. During his tenure at the U.S. Embassy, Peter Vincent coordinated nearly 500 extraditions to the United States, including the extradition requests for dozens of high-profile leaders of designated foreign terrorist organizations such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). In July 2002, he joined the National Security Litigation Team in ICE’s San Francisco Office of the Chief Counsel. As a trial attorney, he represented the government in immigration proceedings involving terrorists and individuals who had provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations. In addition, Peter Vincent advised the local Joint Terrorism Task Force on issues relating to counterterrorism and foreign counterintelligence. Peter Vincent graduated with High Distinction from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Ms. Kephart is a border and ID security expert who served as counsel to the 9/11 Commission BORDERPOL is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Janice Kephart as the Director of the Americas Program. Ms. Kephart brings her extensive experience in border security systems and her international credibility to BORDERPOL. Ms. Kephart is a border and ID security expert who served as counsel to the 9/11 Commission and was a key author of the Staff Monograph, 9/11 and Terrorist Travel, as well as the immigration-related facts and recommendations in the 9/11 Commission Report. "I could not be more excited and honored to be asked to take the helm of the Americas Program for BORDERPOL. This is an esteemed group of dedicated border professionals not affiliated with political outcomes, but with assuring improved border security and facilitation throughout the world with much of its work supported by the tenants of the 9/11 Commission. While I will continue to work diligently on supporting the US government in improving borders, I am excited to work with the BORDERPOL team and other interested member-nations in creating an improved international border system," said Kephart. In 2013, Ms. Kephart returned from a Special Counsel appointment in the US Congress to work on comprehensive immigration reform (her second round as a Congressional counsel) to start up the Secure Identity & Biometric Association (SIBA) As CEO of SIBA, Ms. Kephart is quickly establishing the nonprofit as a new kind of trade association that drives essential relationships behind the scenes with upfront cutting-edge policy leadership for government, industry and the media. The organization just formed an Airport Entry and Exit Working Group and released a detailed Framework which BORDERPOL officially supports, to encourage the US government to partner with industry on airport immigration solutions. As National Security Director at a Washington DC think tank for five years, Ms. Kephart was the leading expert on assuring implementation of 9/11 Commission border recommendations and practical, operational border security measures. Janice speaks regularly at conferences, to international media, publishes articles and op-eds around the world, and has testified before Congress 18 times on issues of border and ID security while her media appearances in print, radio and national TV (with all major networks) is in the hundreds. From 2012-2013, Janice hosted a one-hour "The Homeland Security Show with Janice Kephart" on digital radio with in-depth interviews and analysis of top stories and government officials. Ms. Kephart is situated in Washington, DC. She will work closely with the General Secretariat Ottawa, Canada as BORDERPOL renews its goal of establishing an Americas Secretariat complementing its operations in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Mark Harper will discuss the challenges facing border control and immigration Mark Harper MP as Minister of State for Immigration will once again provide the keynote address for this year's World BORDERPOL Congress, to be held at Central Hall Westminster, London on the 3rd-4th December. Executive Director of BORDERPOL, Thomas Tass said, "Following the success of the inaugural event last year, BORDERPOL are pleased and delighted to once again welcome Minister Harper, whose keynote address will set the context for two days of high level debate and discussion on the challenges facing border control and immigration agencies around the world"  The event will once again bring together some of the world's senior policy makers, practitioners and players to discuss and debate the current and future issues facing the border management, security and migration management sector.