CBP & ICE Discuss Outbound Scanning, Request for More Officers, Training Mexico Customs

CBP Has Been Scanning 100% of Southbound Rail, Using “Pulse and Surge”

As part of a Department of Homeland Security effort² to support the President's 2009 Southwest Border Initiative, CBP created the Outbound Programs Division within its Office of Field Operations to focus on stemming the flow of firearms, currency, stolen vehicles, and fugitives out of the U.S. Commissioner Bersin stated that with the creation of this division, CBP began screening southbound rail and vehicle traffic looking for illegal weapons and cash. CBP also began scanning 100% of southbound rail shipments and increased its use of "pulse and surge" strategies for outbound operations on the Southwest border.

Over 1,900 Southbound Weapons and $104M in Currency Have Been Seized

Bersin added that in FY 2011, CBP has continued to strengthen the use of such operations along the Southwest border and to enhance its cooperative efforts with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, yielding significant results. In FYs 2009 and 2010, CBP seized more than $104 million in southbound illegal currency -- an increase of approximately $28 million compared to 2007-2008. In addition, in FY 2010 CBP seized more than 1,900 southbound weapons - nearly double the approximately 1,000 seized in FY 2008

2012 Budget Request Seeks Largest Deployment Ever of Frontline Officers

CBP's FY 2012 budget request continues these efforts by supporting 21,370 Border Patrol agents between the ports of entry and 21,186 CBP officers at U.S. ports of entry to target illicit networks trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons and money.

Included in the request is funding to support the deployment of 300 new CBP officers and additional canine assets to port of entry operations that have recently come online. The additional CBP officers and canines would increase CBP enforcement capabilities to prevent the entry of unlawful people and contraband while enhancing its ability to process legitimate travelers and cargo. This reflects the largest deployment of law enforcement officers to the front line in the agency's history.

CBP Using NII, X-Ray Vans to Conduct Examinations and Seize Drugs, Currency

Bersin stated that CBP now has 290 large-scale Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) systems deployed to its ports of entry, 142 of which are deployed on the Southwest border. Additionally, CBP has deployed 57 backscatter X-ray vans to Southwest border land ports of entry.

To date, CBP has used the deployed systems to conduct over 32 million examinations resulting in over 7,600 narcotic seizures with a total weight of 2.4 million pounds of narcotics, and the seizure of over $19.2 million in undeclared currency. Used in combination with its layered enforcement strategy, these tools provide CBP with a capability to detect contraband, including illicit nuclear or radiological materials. The deployment of NII technologies has enabled CBP staff to efficiently process a significant volume of passengers and trade.

CBP Using Layered “Risk Segmentation” for Trade/Travel

Working with its partners, CBP’s strategy is to secure U.S. borders by employing and enhancing its layers of defense throughout the continuum of both travelers and trade that seek to cross U.S. borders -- starting from their points of origin, through transit to the U.S., arrival and entry at U.S. borders, routes of egress, and ultimately to final destination in the U.S.

This strategy relies upon increased intelligence and risk-management strategies regarding the movement and flow of both travelers and trade. CBP accomplishes its mission of expediting legal trade and travel by separating the knowns from the unknowns.

This risk segmentation allows CBP to enhance security by focusing more attention on stopping illegitimate trade, while at the same time facilitating legitimate travel and commerce.

ICE Says Info Sharing & Seizures Have Increased Since Initiative Launch

Janice Ayala, Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations at ICE stated that since the 2009 launch of the Southwest Border initiative, information sharing between the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense has increased, resulting in better intelligence capabilities and coordination with state, local, and Mexican law enforcement authorities. Between March 2009 and March 2010, seizures of weapons, money, and narcotics along the Southwest border have increased significantly compared to the same time period in 2008-2009.

ICE to Train Mexican Customs Officials on Customs Laws, Best Practices

Ayala also announced that ICE will soon begin an investigative training course for Mexican Customs-enforcement personnel, modeled after the ICE Special Agent training. The comprehensive curriculum will prepare Mexican Customs officials to assume expanded investigative responsibilities and graduates will better understand U.S. and Mexican customs laws and law enforcement best practices. Increased investigative capabilities will support the prosecution of criminal customs violations in Mexico and will improve bilateral information sharing and investigative efforts.

¹ICE is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

²In March 2009, in support of the President's Southwest Border Initiative, DHS Secretary Napolitano unveiled efforts designed to support three goals: reduce movement of contraband across the border, support Mexico's campaign to crack down on drug cartels in Mexico, and guard against the spillover of violent crime into the U.S. This initiative called for additional personnel, increased intelligence capability, and better coordination with state, local and Mexican law enforcement authorities. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/25/09 news, 09032510, news for BP summary of DHS announcement of this initiative.)

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/11/11 news, 11031116, for BP summary of Bersin testifying on CBP’s FY 2012 budget request, where he discussed partnering with Mexico on outbound enforcement.

See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/03/09 news, 09120320, for BP summary of CBP testifying on outbound enforcement and coordination with Mexico.

See ITT’s Online Archives or 02/17/11 news, 11021716, for BP summary of CBP and GAO testifying on border security measures.)