IG urges Customs officials to better use intelligence

Investigators recently recommended that U.S. Customs and Border Protection strengthen its use of intelligence reports and technology for the container screening component of a system that has come under attack from privacy advocates for its use of information on travelers.

A report published by the Homeland Security Department inspector general last week called on CBP to "fully utilize" intelligence for the Automated Targeting System. The auditors also said port performance evaluations need improvement, and policies and procedures for inspecting high-risk shipments need tweaking.

The IG examined various DHS locations in the Washington area and three "major ports of entry," checking operations, inspection results data, required training course material and programs used by CBP and other agencies that track shipments.

The report urged CBP to review its policies on which port workers need security clearances, as there are currently differences in interpretation. The auditors did not go into more detail, and DHS officials did not respond to requests for comment regarding the report.

The IG also called on CBP to ensure that inspection imagery is provided to officers conducting secondary level inspections. Nonintrusive inspection imagery was not always available at the three ports auditors reviewed. Auditors stated that additional guidance is needed for shipments with "elevated" ATS scores for risk -- the system by which the level of inspection per container is judged. They said tracking and inspection methods for containers "need to be periodically reviewed and evaluated."

The IG stated that CBP officials agreed with the recommendations in the report.

Privacy advocates and travelers' groups already have criticized the information and intelligence used for the ATS program's passenger screening component as excessively intrusive. DHS chose to extend the comment period for an announcement detailing the screening program, and complaints have continued.