How CBP Leverages Emerging Tech to Protect & Secure the U.S.-Mexico Border

In Part II of our recap of the Institute for Defense & Government Advancement’s (IDGA) Homeland Security Week 2023 Symposium, we explore how U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is leveraging emerging technology to drive the agency forward in support of its mission to “safeguard America’s borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the Nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.” Recognizing the need for real-time information and data to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and to enhance tactical awareness for those working in the field, CBP is actively working towards securing the United States-Mexico border using technology and data-driven approaches. To achieve this, CBP has been leveraging emerging technologies and tools, expanding its use of technology to stay ahead of criminal organizations.

For example, CBP has implemented centralized data collection and analysis systems to inform decision-making processes. These systems provide a more efficient and effective way to analyze and share data with those in the field. CBP is also constantly working to find efficiencies within existing processes, enabling customs officers to return to the frontlines. CBP has also implemented the Unified Monitoring Access app, a mobile intake application, which has replaced legacy paper processing and improved the CBP's operational efficiency.

CBP is also expanding its partnerships with government and international agencies to secure its borders and prevent the smuggling of people, weapons, and narcotics—including programs like Operation Sentinel. CBP is further working towards merging disparate datasets to provide more informed alerts and awareness and to expand the use of cloud and edge computing. Additionally, CBP is investing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to expand Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) across the Southwest Border to use such systems to screen 40% of passengers and 70% of vehicles by 2026. CBP also aims to expand facial recognition at all Ports of Entry to support its overall Biometric Entry-Exit initiatives.

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has also taken several measures recently to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. One of the critical challenges that USBP faces is balancing its limited resources with an expanding surge in migrants, particularly along the Southwest Border. To address this issue, the USBP has turned to technology to extend the reach of its existing resources and improve its overall efficiencies. This includes the deployment of over 13,000 Team Awareness Kits (TAKs) to its field units and using the Automated Targeting System (ATS) in conjunction with other emerging technologies.

In addition to the operational challenges posed by the increase in migration, the USBP is also facing a growing threat of counter surveillance, as adversaries along the Southwest Border use drones and other technologies to monitor the organization's activities. To address this, USBP is working closely with other DHS components to leveraging technology to target and disrupt TCOs. The goal is to utilize technology to allow CBP and USBP to focus on addressing more significant threats rather than providing humanitarian responses. This focus on technology is helping to ensure the continued safety and security of the U.S.-Mexico border while also allowing the CBP and USBP to make the best use of their limited resources.

Being responsible for securing more than 300 Ports of Entry (POEs) nationwide and processing 360M+ people each year at air, sea, and land POEs, CBP is working to build real-time threat assessments and improve its business processes for travel and trade-related programs to achieve its mission. The agency also leverages advanced data projects and cutting-edge technology to drive its infrastructure for the "Ports of the Future."

As mentioned previously, one of CBP's critical efforts is using NII technology, which is expanding to include Artificial Intelligence, targeting, and threat assessment. This technology already saves CBP $1B in annual operational costs and saves industry $17.5B+ through improved efficiencies. CBP is also leveraging facial biometrics to provide simplified arrival and pre-clearance locations, intending to achieve a 50% saturation level across all U.S. airports in 2023 for the Biometric-Exit Program.

To meet the evolving threats, CBP engages with foreign counterparts in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) program, which scans cargo before and upon arrival at U.S. POEs. CBP is also focused on placing NII systems at pre-primary locations to streamline the overall border crossing process and expand the use of facial biometrics to include driving lanes and provide more comparative risk assessments.

Collectively, these efforts and a focus on leveraging the latest emerging technologies will help CBP to achieve its broad and challenging mission set and ensure the security and facilitation of trade across the United States-Mexico border.