In a notable bipartisan move, senators from across the political spectrum have teamed up to introduce legislation aimed at enhancing the capabilities of border law enforcement. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), James Lankford (R-OK), and John Cornyn (R-TX) have put forward the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade (BEST) Facilitation Act. The essence of the bill is to provide additional support in the scanning of cargo, aiming to deter and stop illegal smuggling activities that plague the U.S. southern border.
The newly introduced bill seeks to allocate more personnel specifically to review scans of incoming cargo for potential threats such as illegal drugs, guns, and instances of human smuggling. "Customs and Border Protection needs more trained personnel to stop illegal drugs, weapons, and human smuggling from entering our country," Senator Kelly stated, in a press release available on his website. Lankford highlighted the immediacy of these measures, "Adding more personnel at ports of entry will immediately provide our country with another layer of security to prevent traffickers from smuggling weapons or drugs across the border."
Border law enforcement professionals have significantly voiced their need for enhanced support in real-time analysis of cargo images. In direct response to that need, the BEST Facilitation Act proposes the creation of positions for image technicians within Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These technicians would play a critical role in reviewing cargo images and flagging any for further inspection that they suspect may contain illegal or illicit items, thus streamlining the process and making it more effective.
Apart from creating image technician positions, the bill also advocates the establishment of supervisory image technician roles, charged with the task of further assessing more difficult imagery. They would also be responsible for maintaining a line of communication with the National Targeting Center, "receive, report, and disseminate intelligence to and from the National Targeting Center to image adjudicators," according to the bill text. The legislation outlines stringent training and routine assessments for these technicians and necessitates the establishment of a workforce staffing model along with comprehensive reporting requirements.
The bill has garnered support from various groups, including the U.S. Travel, Border Trade Alliance, National Sheriffs Association, and National Association of Counties. The bipartisan backing of the bill and the support from these organizations reflect a concerted effort to address the pressing issue of border security, particularly as it pertains to the smuggling of contraband through commercial trade routes.
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