DELMIE document examination manual

Identity and travel documents remain fundamental to border security and migration management. However, immigration and border agencies are increasingly confronted by sophisticated document fraud driven by transnational organised crime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cyber-enabled offending, and the emergence of AI-generated forgeries. These threats place great demand on border agencies and laboratories to identify fraudulent documents, while permitting legitimate travel and protecting human rights and privacy.

To help agencies respond to these challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), through its Legal Identity Unit and the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) program, commissioned ForenSys to produce the Document Examination Laboratory Manual for the Immigration Environment (DELMIE). Established in 2021, the COMPASS program works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners to strengthen migration governance and border management capabilities worldwide. The objective was to ensure the manual reflected contemporary threats, technologies and operational practices while providing practical guidance for agencies at different stages of capability development.

Working closely with IOM, the project drew upon international best practice, contemporary forensic methodologies and forensic intelligence principles to create a practical and future-focused resource for document examination professionals and border agencies. The manual was redesigned to support the full lifecycle of document examination laboratory operations, covering areas such as laboratory design, equipment selection, examination methodologies, reporting practices, workforce development and quality management. It was also expanded to address emerging issues including competency frameworks, laboratory capability models, forensic intelligence integration, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

To support implementation, ForenSys developed a suite of operational resources including reporting templates, case management records, alert and intelligence notices, training and competency records, chain of custody documentation, and casework and specimen registers. Together, these resources provide agencies with practical tools to establish consistent, defensible and scalable document examination practices.

As part of the project, ForenSys delivered a three-day specialist training workshop in Tanzania for immigration, border security and document examination practitioners from across Africa. The workshop combined theoretical instruction with practical exercises across document security features, examination methodologies, laboratory workflows, and emerging threats including digitally manipulated and AI-generated documents. It also introduced forensic intelligence and intelligence-led border management, demonstrating how document examination findings contribute to broader investigations and threat assessments.

The DELMIE provides governments, immigration authorities, law enforcement agencies and international partners with a contemporary framework for establishing, operating and enhancing document examination capabilities. By combining updated guidance, practical implementation tools and targeted capability development, the project strengthened the ability of agencies to detect fraudulent documents and respond to increasingly complex border security threats.

The project also enhanced regional capability through practitioner training and collaboration, fostering stronger professional networks and supporting a more coordinated response to document fraud, migrant smuggling, human trafficking and transnational organised crime. The workshop was highly received by participants as engaging, practical and valuable to their work.

This engagement demonstrates ForenSys’ ability to deliver complex international capability development initiatives that combine technical expertise, operational experience and strategic thinking to strengthen border security outcomes and support effective migration governance.