Local News

Illegal Alien Hired As JAXPort Security Guard

Adam Kirk - Morning News Producer

@ February 4, 2010 6:14 AM Permalink | Comments (7)

Just how did an illegal manage to fall through the cracks and get a security job at Jaxport? It may take awhile before the local, state and federal officials hammer out what went wrong.

But we've learned what triggered the investigation that led to the Brazilian man's arrest Tuesday.

Jaxport spokesperson Nancy Rubin says Aldenor Abrantes Filho was eventually arrested. He had only worked five shifts.

"The individual was driving a vehicle that just didn't seem quite right to our very experienced security officer. It looked to have been configured to represent a police car".

The Department of Homeland Security said Aldenor Abrantes Filho, 31, was arrested Tuesday for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Filho is accused of falsely obtaining a Florida drivers license, and listing Georgia as his place of birth when he got a job with U.S. Security Associates, a security contractor based in Jacksonville.

He is also accused of stealing two St. Johns County Sheriffs Deputy badges, and a .22 caliber pistol.

Rubin says Filho was arrested Tuesday morning at the port's Blount Island terminal by Jacksonville police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

"I just want to point out the situation worked as it should, and the individual in question was on the premises on very few occasions" said Rubin.

However, Filho managed to fly under the radar since he was hired last month. Rubin didn't say if JAXPort is planning to change their security measures, or, stop using the contractor who hired Filho.

According to the complaint filed by Customs and Border Protection, Filho entered the United States on a six-month visitor's visa in 2003 and never left. A petition for more permanent immigrant status was denied in 2007, the complaint says.

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What others are saying

U.S.SECURITY
HOW DID THIS GUY GET A JOB WITH U S SECURITY? THE PORT SHOULD FIRE U S SECURITY AND GET A REAL SECURITY COMPANY FOR JAXPORT. THIS TELLS ME ALOT ABOUT U S SECURITY. A USELESS COMPANY BUT I ALREADY KNEW THAT THIS JUST CONFIRMS IT.
By BRUCE RIDENOUR @ 06/28/10 09:17:40 PMreport abuse
Jaxport Security
Simply incredible -- how in the world can post 9-11 security be this lax? and how can anyone, especially the Jaxport spokesman, say the system worked? What worked was the awareness and observations of his co-worker, not "the system". If this co-worker hadn't raised his concerns, who knows how long this illegal would be in this sensitive position with stolen law enforcement ID, an illegally obtained firearm, and an invalid SSN (I am guessing he had an invalid SSN since he was hired, but who knows). Are there no background checks on people hired for security positions? U.S. Security Associates needs to be banned from doing business with any government agency. Where is the accountability.
By DBINJAX @ 02/04/10 04:12:08 PMreport abuse
No Americans Allowed
It's a typical Obama/Democrat view of Amerika...let legal immigrants and US Citizens lose everything and preserve the precious 15% Illegal alien voting block. Make sure too to license them and let them work in LAW ENFORCEMENT with loaded guns drawn on us worthless Americans. We need to be controlled by the illegal aliens and make sure that our tax dollars support them in positions of strength and security while we starve. Why that would only be fair, just ask the JAX staff or Homeland Security. Like Obama said we need to be fair to the poor drunken gun toating illegal aliens and spread our wealth striaght to them then get on our knees as it's really their country anyway, right...

TO All Americans: Make sure to vote the corrupt Democrats who let this happen out. Arrest, Jail and deport all illegals NOW!!! Jail any elected officials who refuse to follow the law.
By SPQR_US @ 02/04/10 03:42:03 PMreport abuse
Jax Port
It sounds like local, State, and Federal mishaps allowed this particular person to slip through the cracks. Plus, it appears he had valid identification enough to obtain a State Drivers License and Florida State issued Security Officer License. Plus, he must have been cleared by TSA/Homeland Security for a Twic card, Port Badge along the way to be able to secure a position by the Security Company at the Port, which is tightly screened by Homeland Security prior to be allowed to work at the Port in the 1st place.
By Kenneth @ 02/04/10 03:13:21 PMreport abuse
Security
This is very upsetting, 1st that he's an illegal alien and was hired as a security guard and was able to get a Federal TWIC Badge.2nd* The "SYSTEM" did not work or he would have be caught during the badging process. 3rd*I think some "Profiling" should be done, cross checking data bases for anyone trying to get a TWIC badge as it allows you onto any port in the US. He was caught by chance only. And yes the security company is stillat the port as their contract just started last month at Jaxport. Since US Customs is at the port they should be given everyone's name/information to check their data base. Now taxpayers will be footing the bill for his defense..I say send his home, NEVER to be able to enter the US again and I mean NEVER.
By Catherine @ 02/04/10 02:38:10 PMreport abuse
Illegal alien
Rubin's comments "I just want to point out the situation worked as it should" are as asinine as Janet Napolitano's (home land security) when the Christmas Day bomber flew into Detroit "the system worked as it was supposed to".......and just like the plane bomber (only in the air a few hours).....apparently identifying an illegal alien EMPLOYEE hanging around JaxPort with a gun and stolen law enforcement badges "on the premises on very few occasions" is the benchmark for success for these bureaucrats.
By mike @ 02/04/10 11:12:19 AMreport abuse
SECURITY COMPANY?
WELL! Isn't this an interesting story! I wonder if this SECURITY COMPANY is still doing business with the GOVERNMENT idiots that are charged with our national SECURITY in our ports of call!
By Jim K @ 02/04/10 09:23:03 AMreport abuse