Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Expert Recommendation Memo to CBP Concerning Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol Stations

CRCL conducted an onsite investigation in the Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) from July 16-19, 2018. CRCL visited the RGV Central Processing Center (CPC) and four U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) stations (Rio Grande City, McAllen, Harlingen, and Brownsville Stations). This investigation was in part a follow-up to CRCL’s onsite investigation in RGV in July 2014 that included inspections at eight USBP stations, one port of entry, and the CPC.  Enclosed with this memorandum is the report prepared by our subject-matter expert. The expert has divided the findings and recommendations into those involving the CPC and others that are sector-wide.

No Mas Muertas/No More Deaths

Records pertaining to the June 15, 2017 event where Border Patrol Agents served a warrant and arrested four people at the No More Deaths facility in Arivaca, Arizona. These records are released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in response to a FOIA request.

DHS/CBP/PIA-058 Publicly Available Social Media Monitoring and Situational Awareness Initiative

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) takes steps to ensure the safety of its facilities and personnel from natural disasters, threats of violence, and other harmful events and activities. In support of these efforts, designated CBP personnel monitor publicly available, open source social media to provide situational awareness and to monitor potential threats or dangers to CBP personnel and facility operators. Authorized CBP personnel may collect publicly available information posted on social media sites to create reports and disseminate information related to personnel and facility safety. CBP is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) because, as part of this initiative, CBP may incidentally collect, maintain, and disseminate personally identifiable information (PII) over the course of these activities.

Associated SORNs:

• DHS/CBP-024 Intelligence Records System (CIRS) System of Records

DHS/CBP/PIA-057 Electronic Secured Adjudication Forms Environment (e-SAFE)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with determining the admissibility of all individuals seeking admission into the United States. e-SAFE is a web-based waiver application system that allows inadmissible visa-exempt individuals to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility. CBP is updating this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to meet the guidelines contained in Executive Order (EO) 13780, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States." The EO requires the capture of social media "handles" or identifiers of applicants and the names and addresses of individuals with whom waiver applicants anticipate they will be in contact while in the United States. This information will help improve the screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with the waiver issuance process.

Recommendations Memo to CBP Concerning Religious Questioning at Ports of Entry

This memorandum provides policy and training recommendations to better support front-line CBP Office of Field Operations officers in avoiding improper questions regarding travelers' religion while conducting border inspections.  It closes, with general findings and specific recommendations, multiple complaints filed with the
CRCL on this subject, and also closes multiple complaints that touch on similar subjects--without findings or recommendations--due to their age and ongoing litigation.

DHS/CBP/PIA-056 Traveler Verification Service

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is congressionally mandated to deploy a biometric entry/exit system to record arrivals and departures to and from the United States. Following several years of testing and pilots, CBP has successfully operationalized and deployed facial recognition technology, now known as the Traveler Verification Service (TVS), to support comprehensive biometric entry and exit procedures in the air, land, and sea environments. CBP has issued Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) documenting each new phase of TVS testing and deployment. CBP is now issuing this comprehensive PIA to a) consolidate all previously issued PIAs and b) provide notice to the public about how TVS collects and uses personally identifiable information (PII).

Recommendations Memo Concerning Searches of Transgender Individuals

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide recommendations to update the CBP Office of Field Operations Personal Search Handbook and issue a muster instructing officers on the appropriate way to search transgender individuals consistent with the 2015 National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS).

DHS/CBP/PIA-055 HRM 5000

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Human Resources Management (HRM) has selected contract support to improve and streamline the recruiting, hiring, and personnel security processes for CBP “Frontline” positions, including U.S. Border Patrol Agents, CBP Officers, and Air and Marine Interdiction Agents. HRM 5000 is CBP’s contract with Accenture Federal Services (AFS) LLC. This contract addresses surge hiring to support the President’s Executive Order for an additional 5,000 Border Patrol Agents (BPA). It will also be used to support the hiring of additional law enforcement positions within the Office of Air and Marine and the Office of Field Operations.

DHS/CBP/PIA-054 Laboratory Information Network (LIN)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate (LSSD) owns and operates the Laboratory Information Network (LIN) system. Laboratory analysts use the LIN web application for tracking and storing information related to analysis requests, test results, and laboratory reports supporting CBP trade and forensic investigations.

S&T Fact Sheet: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Modernization Program Life Cycle Cost Estimate Update

S&T supported the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Life Cycle Cost Estimate update, which boosts transparency and planning.