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CBP to improve container intel A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) report released at the beginning of December suggests that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) isn’t exploiting intelligence sources as much as it should to back up its shipping container risk assessment system. The system is based on the Automated Targeting System (ATS), which is also used to assess the risk posed by people trying to get into the U.S. The system assigns a ‘score’ which is then used to decide if closer examination or questioning is warranted. The IG has recommended that CBP review available intelligence sources and security clearances, improve how it evaluates its own port security performance, improve the way it designates high-risk cargo and make sure that imagery generated during inspections is made available to officers when secondary screenings are done. A Congressional Quarterly story says that CBP has agreed with all of the recommendations and has indicated what it plans to do to make the required improvements. |
