Congressman wants Homeland Security to investigate false deportation at San Diego airport

Congressman: Investigate false deportation in CA

HEMET, Calif. — A California congressman is calling for an investigation into how a Hemet man posed as a U.S. marshal to bypass airport security in San Diego and deport his cousin’s wife to the Philippines.

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday asking for documents related to the incident and to Transportation Security Administration policies.

Police say Greg Denny took his cousin’s wife, Cherriebelle Hibbard, to Lindberg Field in San Diego last month where he presented a fake badge to several TSA agents and was cleared to go past security and put Hibbard on a plane to the Philippines. Denny was arrested three days later, but has not been charged.

TSA spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino has said Denny apparently followed procedures. But Issa says those procedures are flawed.

Information from: The Press-Enterprise, www.pe.com