19 October 2005

US Customs and Border Protection Receives 11 Per Cent Budget Increase in Fiscal Year 2006

The following are highlights of the forthcoming US Customs budget for 2006, announced in a press release by CBP yesterday.

• Additional Border Patrol Agents. The Budget includes $236 million for the hiring of 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents, as well as over 300 operational/mission support personnel. This increase is in addition to the 500 Border Patrol agents provided in the FY 2005 Emergency Supplemental. The Budget also provides funding for facilities and other infrastructure costs to accommodate the increased workforce.

• Automated Targeting Systems Enhancement (ATS). The Budget contains $28.3 million for our automated targeting systems, including funds to enhance CBP’s targeting and risk analysis capabilities. ATS aids CBP in identifying high-risk cargo and passengers.

• Container Security Initiative (CSI). The Budget provides an additional $5.4 million and 12 positions for the expansion of the CSI program, which targets and pre-screens high-risk cargo before it reaches our shores. CSI has a preventative and deterrent effect on the use of global containerized shipping to conceal weapons of mass destruction and other terrorist weapons.

• Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). The Budget includes an additional $8.2 million to enhance CBP’s ability to conduct supply chain security validations. The C-TPAT partnership between CBP and the international trade community helps secure the global supply chain, from foreign nations to U.S. ports of arrival, from terrorists and terrorist weapons. Like all CBP security initiatives, it does this while also facilitating the flow of trade.

• Immigration Advisory Program (IAP). The Budget allows for the expansion of IAP by two additional overseas airports. The expansion of IAP will improve overall security by enabling CBP to identify and intercept more suspected terrorists and passengers attempting to use fraudulent identification or documents before they board commercial aircraft bound for United States.

CBP Air Investments

• $20 million for the replacement of 12 Vietnam-era helicopters.
• Funding for palletized sensor systems for P-3 long-range tracker aircraft, P-3 service life extension, and manned, covert surveillance aircraft. The budget also designates funding for Montana and North Dakota air branches to better protect our northern border.
• Funding for the operation of long-range radar. This technology is used to detect and intercept aircraft attempting to avoid detection while entering U.S. airspace.

• Border Tactical Infrastructure. The Budget includes funding to continue the construction on the San Diego border infrastructure system as well for additional tactical infrastructure projects in Arizona.>Advanced Training Center. The Budget provides funding for the expansion of CBP’s Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

• Automation Modernization. The Budget provides continued support for Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the related International Trade Data System (ITDS) which permits other government agencies to link into ACE.

• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Detection Technology. The Budget also appropriates $125 million to the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) for WMD detection technology to be used solely for Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) at the ports of entry of the U.S. This technology allows CBP to screen all trucks, trains, cars, sea containers, airfreight, and mailbags with advanced radiation detection technology prior to their release and is a critical part of our strategy to counter the terrorist threat of nuclear and radiological devices.