One Face at the Border
Posted Sep 19, 2003

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is cross-training their inspectors to perform immigration inspections, customs inspections, and agriculture inspections. The program is known as the "One Face at the Border" initiative. Under this program, the previous separation of the immigration, customs, and agriculture functions will be eliminated. Thus, the need to undergo up to three separate inspections is also eliminated. The unified inspection process will involve a sole primary inspector, who will determine whether the individual needs to go to secondary inspection for a more thorough screening and review by a higher-level inspector. The primary inspector will have special training so that s/he will be able to determine the appropriate individuals to refer to secondary inspection.

Individuals trained in Counter-Terrorism Response (CTR) will perform the secondary inspections. The idea is that, if there are fewer primary inspectors, there will be a greater number of secondary inspectors. The intent is to increase efficiency through unifying functions.

In light of these changes, we would reiterate our suggestion to MurthyBulletin and MurthyDotCom readers to check their documents, especially I-94 dates, when returning to the U.S. Errors in the validity dates of I-94s have historically been common at the borders. Such errors can have serious consequences for status and are not always easy to fix later. The inspectors had a substantial amount of work even when limited solely to immigration functions. With the addition of customs and agriculture inspections now allocated to one inspector, it seems the inspectors have an overwhelming workload for which they are responsible. Perhaps we will see an increase in the number of people referred to secondary inspection, if the primary inspector only clears the most straightforward cases. Our readers will know more as they, their families, and their friends travel over the course of the upcoming months.