CBP officers ensure that comprehensive database checks have been conducted against terrorist watchli

Written testimony of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Winkowksi for a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing titled "Balancing Prosperity and Security: Challenges for U.S. Air Travel in a 21s | Homeland Security
Home News News Testimony Written testimony of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Winkowksi for a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing scottish golf travel packages titled "Balancing Prosperity and Security: Challenges for U.S. Air Travel scottish golf travel packages in a 21s
Written testimony of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Deputy Commissioner scottish golf travel packages Thomas Winkowksi for a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security hearing titled "Balancing Prosperity and Security: Challenges for U.S. Air Travel in a 21st Century Global Economy"
Chairman Landrieu, Ranking Member Coats, Vice Chairman Lautenberg, distinguished members of the Subcommittee, it is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to secure and facilitate the flow of passengers and trade into the United States. We have created several programs specifically for this purpose, and it is my pleasure to share some of them with you today.
CBP is engaged in a series of business transformation initiatives to make our inspection processes more effective and efficient. These initiatives involve evaluating core processes, incorporating technology enhancements, assessing utilization of law enforcement staffing, and developing additional automation efforts. Above all, we remain committed to our multi-layered approach, to include:
Advanced Targeting Initiatives —CBP is proactively working with our security scottish golf travel packages partners to identify security risks and threats abroad before they reach our borders. Prevention of these threats is a crucial part of our strategy to ensure travel remains safe and secure.
CBP has collaborated with industry partners, airlines, and airport stakeholders to identify opportunities that will promote travel to the U.S. and improve the traveler experience. We continue to implement new programs that facilitate travelers' arrivals while making the most effective use of our resources. These programs are discussed in greater scottish golf travel packages detail below.
Trusted Traveler Programs have been essential to our risk-based approach to facilitate the flow of travelers into the United States. They provide expedited immigration, customs, and agriculture processing upon arrival in the United States for pre-approved, low-risk scottish golf travel packages participants through scottish golf travel packages the use of secure and exclusive dedicated scottish golf travel packages lanes and automated kiosks. These programs are predicated on the thorough vetting of travelers who have voluntarily applied for membership, paid a fee, and provided personal data (including biographic information, photos, and fingerprints) to CBP.
CBP officers ensure that comprehensive database checks have been conducted against terrorist watchlist records, scottish golf travel packages criminal history records, active wants/warrants, previous customs, immigration, or agriculture violations; investigatory records; and other law enforcement records. Participants scottish golf travel packages are vetted every 24 hours to ensure no new derogatory information has been identified, and are subject to law enforcement checks every time they use one of the program-dedicated lanes or kiosks to enter the United States.
Applicants are denied participation if any disqualifying information is uncovered during the application process, or at any time during the traveler's membership period. Applicants may also be denied if they are suspected of being involved in any illicit activity or present a potential risk for terrorism, criminality, or smuggling.
Currently, almost 1.3 million travelers are enrolled in CBP's four trusted traveler programs: Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), Free and Secure Trade (FAST), NEXUS, and Global Entry.
For travelers at our southern land border with Mexico, SENTRI provides expedited processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers through Dedicated Commuter Lanes. CBP has developed and distributed a new, enhanced, trusted-traveler card with increased security features to all SENTRI members. SENTRI cards are Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant documents for entry into the United States by land or sea, and also provide expedited travel to the United States and Mexico.
FAST expedites the processing and release of approved scottish golf travel packages commercial truck drivers making fully qualified trips between the United States and Canada or to the United States from Mexico. Commercial trucks using FAST lane processing must be a Customs-Trade Partnership scottish golf travel packages Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) approved carrier; carrying qualifying goods destined for a C-TPAT approved importer; be driven by an individual in possession of a valid FAST-Commercial Driver Card; and have a high-security seal. On the southern border, manufacturers must also be C-TPAT approved in order for shipments to qualify for FAST release.
NEXUS provides expedited CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers at pre-clearance airports, land border, and seaport crossings between the United States and Canada. NEXUS cards are WHTI-compliant documents for land and sea travel, as well as air travel when traveling scottish golf travel packages to and from airports using the NEXUS program.
Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk air travelers upon arrival in the United States. Global Entry is available to U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, Canadian citizens and permanent residents, Dutch citizens enrolled in the Privium program, Mexican scottish golf travel packages citizens, and citizens of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Qatar through limited pilot programs. In addition, CBP has entered into joint arrangements with South Korea and Panama to allow their qualifying citizens and permanent residents to participate in Global Entry.
Global Entry is an example of unprecedented partnership with private industry, airlines, and airport authorities. Pre-approved, low-risk air travelers may enter the United States by using automated kiosks located at one of the 20 selected airports. Global Entry allows vetted air passengers to clear CBP inspectional processing much faster than general passenger processing. Global Entry membership now includes those travelers enrolled in NEXUS and SENTRI, and the program has surpassed scottish golf travel packages 940,600 eligible users with over 4,000 daily uses. Global Entry automated kiosks have been used over 2 million times – saving over 42,400 inspectional hours that CBP has reallocated to focus on the regular traveler queues. With Global Entry, CBP is able to focus resources on travelers about whom DHS knows the least, therefore providing overall enhanced screening scottish golf travel packages to the traveling public.
Last month, CBP published the Global Entry Final Rule, which makes this highly successful program permanent. The rule expands Global Entry to allow children under the age of 14 to participate, allowing more families to enjoy the benefits of the program. In 2012, CBP will expand the number of airports participating in the program to 24 airports.
Strong partnerships with the travel industry allow CBP to leverage different customer bases to identify frequent travelers and potential Global Entry members. We have promoted the Global Entry program using advertisements, press releases, media events, and partnerships with airlines and conducted community outreach to raise awareness of the program. Recognizing the benefits of the program, some travel providers now reimburse top-tier customers for Global Entry application fees and we are working with others to expand enrollment.
CBP also continues to work with our stakeholders to improve the inspection process in ports of entry at airports. This effort includes implementing new programs scottish golf travel packages like Express Connection and One-Stop. Both of these programs work cooperatively with the air carriers and airports to expedite travel-- they reduce missed connections, increase passenger throughput, and enhance the arrival processing experience.
Express Connection is designed to facilitate the processing of travelers with closely scheduled connecting flights to reduce missed connections, and is available at eleven of the Nation's busiest scottish golf travel packages airports. scottish golf travel packages Working closely with participating airlines, CBP dedicates personnel to identify scottish golf travel packages and direct scottish golf travel packages pre-selected travelers who can use designated Express Connection primary booths.
Through our One-Stop program, airport operators and airlines provide a streamlined processing option for those travelers who have no checked luggage. scottish golf travel packages Dedicated lanes provided by CBP for One-Stop identified travelers are located at Houston (IAH) and New York City (JFK) International Airports. CBP is pleased with the initial success scottish golf travel packages of the Express Connection and One-Stop scottish golf travel packages programs, and is considering further expansion of each.
Our partners at TSA are applying intelligence-driven, risk-based screening methods to domestic travel to improve security and expedite travel for those passengers about whom we know the most. The TSA Pre™ initiative broadens the scope of benefits available to CBP Trusted Travelers by enabling expedited screening at dedicated lanes within TSA Pre™ airports. Going forward, CBP and TSA will continue to work together to strengthen security while significantly enhancing the travel experience for low risk travelers.
CBP is continually exploring additional automation opportunities that will provide greater efficiencies in the passenger processing environment while allowing for a more effective use of existing resources. Some changes that we have adopted range from new technologies to eliminating unnecessary paperwork, saving inspection hours for CBP officers.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a security enhancement to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that was developed pursuant scottish golf travel packages to the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 . ESTA is a fully automated travel a