By Mike Rodriguez, Senior Policy Advisor
Last week, we introduced INTERPOL: what it is, and what it is not. In this update, we’re sharing a practical note for anyone who has reason to believe they may be the subject of an INTERPOL notice (including a Red Notice). Treat this as a travel risk and address it before you board a plane.
First, talk to counsel.
Your team at Poblete Tamargo has handled matters involving the misuse of INTERPOL channels and other global alert systems. We’ve seen how certain travelers—dissidents, business leaders, journalists, political activists, and others with cross-border exposure (including business owners)—can face elevated risk depending on the jurisdictions involved.
Second, check what is publicly available.
INTERPOL maintains a public notices database, and we review it regularly on behalf of clients. A critical caution: not all notices are public, so a clean result online does not guarantee you’re in the clear.
Third, consider formal inquiries through the right channels.
Engaging U.S. and foreign authorities (and, in some cases, a Ministry of Justice) can be intimidating and easy to mishandle without experience. We can make informed, measured inquiries on your behalf and, where appropriate, submit requests to INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) in Lyon, France, to determine whether a notice or related data exists. Even when INTERPOL does not share details, in some cases it can still be worth making the request and putting relevant parties on notice.
Fourth, until you have clarity, avoid international travel if you have a reasonable basis to believe you are being targeted.
If you travel while flagged, you may face detention, secondary screening, or an extradition process at a border—sometimes triggered by imperfect or outdated information. When in doubt, come to us for guidance.
Fifth, if travel is unavoidable, prepare your documentation like it actually matters—before you board a plane or boat (because it does).
We can help you assemble and audit a travel packet tailored to your situation, including up-to-date contact information for your Poblete Tamargo point of contact and—when relevant—immigration documentation, residency evidence, and any visas or home-country documents for non-U.S. nationals.
Finally, if you believe a notice is unjust or abusive, there are procedures to challenge it. Reach out to your team at Poblete Tamargo to explore challenge it on your behalf. The process is technical and fact-specific, but the key point is simple: you don’t want your first “notification” to happen at passport control.
Taking these steps early can reduce risk, protect your rights, and help prevent a preventable crisis—especially one that could needlessly escalate into wrongful detention or worse.
Travel AWARE and travel SAFE!
About the Author
Miguel “Mike” E. Rodriguez is a Senior Policy Advisor with Poblete Tamargo LLP, focusing on U.S. immigration matters, including consular processing, employment-based immigration, Cuban migration/mass migration, and refugee issues. He brings two decades of experience from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he coordinated USCIS engagement with Congress and served as a principal point of contact on Cuba-related inquiries, among other roles.
This post is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each case turns on its facts. Poblete Tamargo is a boutique national security law and public policy practice advising clients on complex matters, including complex consular matters, wrongful detention by foreign governments, economic sanctions, export controls, and congressional oversight. We also counsel employers and travelers on compliant travel planning, documentation, and government engagement strategies. To discuss a specific situation, contact our team.
