Organizational Development

• CBP apprehended over 1.02 million people at and between our ports of entry during FY 2008.
• CBP seized more than 2.78 million pounds of narcotics during FY 2008.
• During FY 2008, CBP apprehended more than 200 people with serious criminal records including murder, rape, and child molestation.
• Continued to increase its workforce in FY 2008. The entire workforce increased 11 percent during FY 2008 to 51,553 from 46,743 during FY 2007. CBP officers increased to a total of 19,726 and agriculture specialists increased to 2,277. This increased the total number of CBP Officers by 7 percent and agriculture specialists by 5 percent. Border Patrol agent staffing increased by 17 percent, from 14,923 in FY 2007 to 17,499 at the end of FY 2008.
• Enhanced ability to provide timely and actionable intelligence to its operational components, and enhanced its ability to support its mission partners through information sharing, by successfully piloting a field intelligence capability and organization called an Intelligence Coordination Team (ICT). Planned deployment of ICT’s, and an even richer capability called Intelligence and Operations Coordination Centers (IOCC), will provide CBP and its mission partners an integrated, end-to-end intelligence capability.
• Continued to process a large volume of commercial imports. Year end analysis of CBP data shows that trade volume is still at a historical high, though growth was mixed for FY 2008 compared to the surge over the last five years. Entry counts and revenue collections have dropped slightly to just under 31 million entries with $32.5 billion in revenue collections ($27 billion from duty collections), down from 31.4 million entries and $33 billion in revenue collections last year, while import value showed gains to about $2.2 trillion from just over $2 trillion last fiscal year.
• Commercial trade enforcement actions show sustained growth. More than 19,000 trade enforcement seizures valued at $351 million were initiated, an increase in volume from more than 17,000 seizures recorded in FY 2007, but a slight decease in seized value from $377 million. As part of these 19,000 seizures, violations of intellectual property rights (IPR) also totaled 14,700 seizures in FY 2008 with a domestic value of more than $267 million, exceeding the 13,600 seizures valued at $197 million that were recorded in FY 2007. Other seizures included 358 seizures for textiles and wearing apparel for violations of quota/visa requirements valued at $52 million, and 1,262 seizures valued at $3.8 million for unsafe or tainted consumer and agricultural products (not including IPR seizures with secondary import safety violations). Through the end of FY 2008, CBP also initiated 471 commercial fraud penalties assessed at $208 million, a slight increase in volume from last year.

Between Ports of Entry

• Border Patrol agents improved border security, reducing the number of apprehensions at the borders by 17 percent in FY 2008. During FY 2008 Border Patrol apprehended 723,825 compared with 876,704 during FY 2007. Yuma Sector saw a reduction in apprehensions by 78 percent, the El Paso Sector saw a reduction in apprehensions by 60 percent, and the El Centro Sector saw a reduction in apprehensions by 27 percent.
• Border Patrol made significant progress with denying illegal entry to aliens from countries other-than-Mexico (OTM). Apprehensions down 9 percent over the previous fiscal year.
• U. S. Border Patrol seizures decreased significantly. In terms of weight, total narcotics seizures decreased overall in FY 2008 by 12 percent. Marijuana seizures were down in FY 2008 by 12 percent over FY 2007, and cocaine seizures decreased 35 percent. Heroin seizures declined 61 percent versus the previous year.
• Border Patrol continued to inform would-be border crossers of the dangers of border crossing. For FY 2008, border rescue incidents are down 42 percent, while border deaths are down by 3 percent along the Southern border with Mexico
• Violence against Border Patrol agents increased. In FY 2008, assaults on agents rose 11 percent compared with FY 2007.
• Operation Jump Start was a resounding success. The National Guard contributed in the arrest of more than 176,000 illegal aliens, rescue of 102 persons, seizures of more than $80,000 in cash and more than 321,000 pounds of drugs. The end of OJS does not mean an end to the partnership between the Border Patrol and the National Guard. We’ll continue to strengthen our partnership with the National Guard to keep our country secure, free and prosperous.
• The highly successful Operation Streamline was expanded from Del Rio, Texas and Yuma, Arizona Border Patrol sectors, to the Laredo, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol sectors resulting in an increase in criminal prosecutions and a reduction in apprehensions.

Secure Border Initiative

Tactical Infrastructure

• More than 93 miles of new fencing was completed this fiscal year. Currently we have 216 miles of pedestrian fence and 154 miles of vehicle fence completed.
• Began final phase of the San Diego Border Infrastructure System (BIS). A significant milestone was achieved this past year with the award of a contract for the final 5 mile portion of the 14 mile BIS project in the San Diego Sector. This segment of the project, which includes Smuggler’s Gulch and Border Field State Park, is under construction and is tentatively scheduled to be completed in May 2009.

SBInet

• Completed SBInet Initial Operational Evaluation. In February 2008, SBInet accepted the proof-of-concept prototype in the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector. Lessons learned from the deployment and use of the demonstration system is being incorporated into requirements identification, design, development, and deployment of future SBInet capabilities.
• Established Formal System Testing Process. In FY 2008, the SBInet program established a formalized process to test system performance and functionality, including system integration testing, system qualification testing, and system acceptance testing. In June 2008, the program began using a field test facility in Playas, New Mexico that provides for system testing in an operational-like environment. This testing will reduce overall program risk and ensure better integration of new and existing technology.
• Approved Tucson, Yuma, and El Paso Sector Tower Locations. Based on close coordination with the Border Patrol on high-threat areas, SBInet obtained approval for the plans that identify potential tower sites, which will provide additional operational coverage on the international border between the United States and Mexico.
• Procured 30 Mobile Surveillance System (MSS) Units. CBP procured 30 MSS units and has begun their deployment to locations on the Southwest Border. The MSS represents the latest technology that combines ground surveillance radar, infrared/day cameras, and laser range finders/designators, creating a more complete situational picture for agents in the field.
• Procured 2,500 Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS). UGS support the surveillance and detection portion of the SBInet mission. As of late September 2008, these UGS were being tested and are in the process of being deployed to both the Northern and Southern Borders.
• Northern Border Project (NBP): SBInet has completed significant planning activities for the NBP. Plans call for the NBP to include the integration and testing of technology in the Detroit Sector and deployment of technology in the Swanton and Buffalo Sectors and for the Champlain Port of Entry (POE). Work has also begun on preparing for the NBP Task Order award in early 2009.

Air and Marine Operations

• Air and Marine seized more than 363,000 pounds of marijuana and cocaine and $21 million during more than 90,000 flight hours flown. Included in these figures, CBP P-3 operations accounted for the disruption and seizure of approximately 39,000 pounds of cocaine from Self-Propelled Semi Submersibles (SPSS) intercepted in the Transit zone.
• Air and Marine opened the Great Lakes Air and Marine Branch at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit as part of the broader CBP effort to enhance northern border security operations. The branch is the last of five planned new primary air and marine facilities that make up the Northern Border Air Wing.
• Air and Marine and the U.S. Coast Guard flew a maritime variant of the Predator B unmanned aircraft system in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits to demonstrate the integration of a variant of the Predator B UAS into CBP Air and Marine and U.S. Coast Guard maritime operations.
• Air and Marine provided airspace security to help ensure that the American public was safe from threats of terrorism during the Super Bowl, the Democratic National Convention, and other high profile security events.
• Air and Marine continued to form and strengthen multi-agency and international partnerships to deter and combat the threat of illegal activity. CBP deployed their skills in air and marine operations by providing training in vessel to vessel operations and the integration of air and marine assets under the establishment of a joint DEA/Colombian/CBP command center in Cartagena, Colombia, enabling the interdiction of maritime targets leaving northern Colombia. CBP Air and Marine provided aviation maintenance training to Georgia, and aviation personnel and resources for tactical insertion training to the Dominican Republic.

At Ports of Entry

• CBP officers seized more than 938,000 pounds of narcotics, arrested more than 26,000 suspected criminals; interdicted more than 224,000 inadmissible aliens turned away at the port of entry, and conducted more than 1.5 million agricultural interceptions (meat and plants).
• CBP officers inspected 396.7 million travelers and more than 122 million cars, trucks, buses, trains, vessels and aircraft at 327 ports of entry.
• Agriculture specialists made 1.5 million agricultural interceptions (meats and plants that are prohibited entry into the U.S.) Through inspection of commodities and seized products, they found more than 158,000 actionable or reportable plant pest interceptions.
• As part of CBP’s efforts to secure our nation’s ports of entry, expanded the Container Security Initiative (CSI), increasing participating ports to 58 in FY 2008. CSI now covers 86 percent of U.S.-bound maritime containers. In addition, CBP launched the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) to help safeguard global maritime cargo.
• On October 12, 2007, met the legislative requirement to establish a 100 percent scanning pilot program in 3 foreign ports as mandated by the SAFE Port Act of October 2006. At that time, SFI became fully operational, scanning 100 percent of all U.S.-bound containers at Port Qasim, Pakistan; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; and the Port of Southampton, UK. CBP has gone beyond the legislative mandate and is deploying SFI operations on a limited basis to three additional locations; Hong Kong, the Port of Salalah, Oman; and in Busan, South Korea.
• Enhanced the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program by adding Mexican Long Haul Carriers, and Foreign Port Terminal Operators to the program. In June, 2008, Mutual Recognition Arrangements were signed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Jordan Customs Department (JCD). These arrangements confirm that the C-TPAT, the CBSA Partners in Protection and the JCD Golden List programs have similar minimum security requirements, similar site validation practices, and offer similar benefits. In FY 2008 C-TPAT added 50 Supply Chain Security Specialists (SCSS) bringing the total to 200. C-TPAT field offices in Houston and Buffalo were added for a total of seven field offices. The program completed 2,317 validations and 1,381 re-validations, which involved 4,210 site visits in 75 foreign countries. Validations were conducted for the first time in China in conjunction with the Chinese Customs officials
• Deployed 108 new radiation portal monitors (RPM) throughout the nation’s ports of entry, bringing the number of RPMs to 1,127 at the nation’s land and sea ports of entry. We also deployed this system to the air cargo environment. With all its deployed RPMs, CBP had the capability to scan approximately 100 percent of all mail and express consignment mail/parcels; approximately 95 percent of all truck cargo and 86 percent of the personally owned vehicles entering from Canada; approximately 100 percent of all truck cargo and 95 percent of the personally owned vehicles arriving from Mexico; and approximately 98 percent of all arriving sea-borne containerized cargo for illicit radiological/nuclear materials.
• Traveler security enhanced when CBP announced plans for construction work to improve 39 major entry points along the U.S borders with Canada and Mexico. The construction, which entails deployment of Radio Frequency Identification technology to 354 vehicle lanes, will help speed travel and further enhance border security. Use of RFID will enable swifter processing at border crossings for travelers using new state-of-the-art travel documents. These documents are the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
• Launched a national television, print and online advertising campaign to educate the public about new travel document requirements that will go into effect on June 1, 2009 under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
• Launched Global Entry, a customer service and security program designed to expedite the screening and processing of pre-approved, low-risk U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents traveling from abroad to the U.S. The pilot started at George Bush Intercontinental, John F. Kennedy International and Washington Dulles International airports and has been expanded to Los Angeles International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Chicago O’Hare International, and Miami International. 3,630 members have already enrolled and 1,160 Global Entry members have used kiosks at the three existing pilot locations.
• Expanded the Model Ports Initiative to 18 additional airports. This joint venture between federal agencies, the travel industry, airlines and airport authorities was designed to improve our processes for clearing and welcoming travelers into the United States. The 18 airports were selected based on the locations with the largest number of foreign visitors arriving annually. Selected international airports in the following cities: New York (JFK), Miami, Los Angeles, Newark, Chicago (O’Hare), Honolulu, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Orlando, Detroit, Boston, Las Vegas, Sanford (Fla.), Seattle, Philadelphia, San Juan and Ft. Lauderdale.
• Announced Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Once mandatory, all nationals or citizens of visa waiver countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP will need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship. Requirement will go into effect next year and does not affect U.S. citizens traveling overseas. By the end of FY 2008, CBP received 160,099 ESTA applications and denied 616, 99.62 percent approval rating.

International Trade

• Office of International Trade:
  
  • Issued over 7,100 binding rulings
  • Closed 1,011 cases regarding tariff, trade and commercial facilitation
  • Provided 215 instances of electronic guidance
  • Answered 959 inquiries from the public, 2,227 inquiries from CBP officers, 68 inquiries from Congress, and 407 inquiries from federal, State and local government
  • Responded to 2,327 QUICS inquiries
  • Closed 220 FOIA cases including 124 appeals
  • Reviewed 815 Miscellaneous Tariff Bills
  • Issued 651 formal penalty decisions
• Established import safety as a priority trade issue, established a dedicated import safety branch and worked closely with other federal agencies to protect the American public from unsafe, substandard, or contaminated imported products. CBP collocated Consumer Product Safety Commission personnel at several of our ports of entry to improve targeting and information sharing between the agencies. CBP in coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement formed an “Operation Guardian” working group to address import safety related concerns. CBP provided the Food and Drug Administration daily data analysis of produce shipments (tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro) to determine the source of the Salmonella bacteria illnesses.
• In conjunction with ICE, the FBI, Department of Justice and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, targeted North American distribution networks of counterfeit Cisco network hardware from China. Resulted in more than 400 seizures of counterfeit Cisco network hardware and labels with estimated retail value of more than $76 million. Led to the criminal prosecution of companies and individuals in the United States and Canada.
• IPR enforcement led to the G8’s July 2008 endorsement of the development of a rapid information alert system for counterfeit goods posing safety and security risk. The G8 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Launched eAllegations, a new online system that allows concerned citizens to report suspected trade violations.
• Completed 243 audits and had another 312 in progress and identified approximately $58 million in recommended recoveries, including user fees, and collected about $36.8 million in revenue.
• Published a variety of products, including federal regulations, Privacy Impact Assessments, and System of Records Notices. Publications included:
  • Final Rules on Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, U.S. – Bahrain, Jordan - U.S., Morocco - U.S. and CAFTA –DR Free Trade Agreements, Entry of Softwood Lumber Products from Canada, Archaeological and Ethnological Material of Iraq, and Articles Assembled Abroad: Operations Incidental to the Assembly Process
  • Uniform Rules of Origin proposal
  • Interim Rules for Softwood Lumber Program and “First Sale” Value Declarations
  • Five Privacy Impact Assessments
  • System of Records Notices for Border Crossing Information, Non-Federal Entity Data Systems, Electronic System for Travel Authorization and Commercial Allegation Recording System
  • Five new and 48 updated Informed Compliance Publications

Information and Technology

• Processed 2,346 forensics samples, including 1,782 analyses of controlled substances, 266 fingerprint lifts and examinations, 175 audio/video duplications, 59 audio/video recoveries/enhancements, and 17 crime scenes and DNA developments.
• Received and adjudicated 5,712 Weapons of Mass Destruction hotline technical assistance requests at the Teleforensics Center. Calls came from CBP, SFI, USCG, and Megaports. Many inappropriate radioactive shipments were returned to their country of origin.
• Began implementation of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) Interpol Interface implementation on October 15, 2007. As of August 1, more than 21 million passengers were processed with over 4 million Interpol queries resulting in 840 positive hits.
• Implemented Initial Operating Capability for the Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTA) on time on July 31, 2008. ESTA provides on-line processing for Visa Waiver Program travelers, and is a web-based system which has the capability to collect biographic data, screen the data against the terrorist lookout including No-Fly list, Visa Revocations, and Interpol’s Lost and Stolen Travel Documents.
• Began weekly deployments of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Vehicle Primary Client (VPC) to the top 39 land border ports of entry (POEs) on June 2, 2008. VPC support for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Activation and the addition of Dedicated Commuter Lane logic were moved to production on September 4, 2008.
• Developed the e3 Booking Module (the next generation of ENFORCE) and webIDENT. e3 is a transactional application that captures all enforcement actions for Border Patrol agents and CBP officers. The e3 program consists of four modules (Booking/Processing, Biometrics, Assaults, and Prosecutions) and integrates with the Enterprise Geospatial Information Services application to capture the latitude/longitude of incidents.
• Completed deployment of ACE truck manifest capabilities, which are used to process an average of 190,000 trucks per week at the nation’s 99 land border ports. Truck processing time at primary is 36 percent faster compared to the Automated Commercial System (ACS) at measured locations.
• Implemented mandatory electronic manifest filing consistent with the Customs Border Security Act (Trade Act) of 2002. Compliance reached 99.7 percent in July 2008.
• Completed deployment of ACE Entry Summary, Accounts, and Revenue: Enhanced Account Management and Reference Data capabilities, which expanded the number of ACE account types, making it possible for nearly every trade entity doing business with CBP to establish an ACE Secure Data Portal account. Increased the number of ACE Secure Data Portal Accounts by 27 percent, from 11,950 accounts to 15,221.
• Collected more than 40 percent of all duties, taxes, and fees (nearly $1 billion per month) via the ACE Periodic Monthly Statement process. This is up from 34 percent in FY 2007.
• Deployed the Port Radiation Inspection, Detection, and Evaluation (PRIDE) system to 16 ports (39 sites and terminals). The system is deployed to a total of 46 ports (83 sites and terminals) nationwide.