Despite increased scrutiny on access to military facilities, an illegal immigrant was able to obtain access to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tuscon, Ariz., according to news reports.
Just like the incident yesterday where an Air Force National Guard intelligence officer was discovered with 48 bombs in his car, illegal immigrant Mario Bustamante was discovered during a routine traffic stop.
Bustamante worked for a local construction company, contracted to do work on the military facility. Bustamante received access to the base and credentials for work using fraudulent documents, including a falsified Arizona identification card, social security card, bank card, and vehicle registration – all obtained under a fake name. Bustamante was able to use these documents in order to obtain his credentials to enter Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Access to military facilities has come under scrutiny in the wake of the Navy Yard shooting. Contractor Aaron Alexis was able to maintain a secret security clearance despite mental health issues and incidents involving law enforcement. Alexis possessed a secret security clearance, which allowed him to gain access to the Washington Navy Yard. In contrast, Bustmante did not have a security clearance (the security clearance investigation process would have uncovered the fraudulent nature of his identity and documents), but he was able to gain access to the military facility through his work.
The incident calls into question military facilities and how individuals gain access to those facilities. In September, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called for an investigation into physical security and access to military facilities worldwide. Policies generally dictate that contractors undergo background investigations and receive appropriate credentials before being granted access. It’s unclear whether Bustante used his false documents in order to obtain access to the Air Force base, or if he was required to undergo any kind of identity check at all.
