Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) is reintroducing legislation to expedite cargo screenings at ports of entry along the border to improve crackdowns on illegal contraband entering the country.
Named the "Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade" (BEST) Facilitation Act, Rep. Ciscomani's bill has a new position for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) named the "image technician" who will expedite cargo scans entering the United States to determine if further inspection is necessary. A new supervisory image technician would assess the more difficult cargo scans, thereby cutting the amount of time legal cargo can pass through in half and allowing CBP agents to enforce border laws.
In his press release, Rep. Ciscomani said, "In Pima County, fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death for people between 18 and 45 years old."
As a result, the Arizona Congressman added, "We must remain committed to securing the border and stopping the flow of this deadly poison and other contraband into our communities. This commonsense effort will add an image technician position to allow CBP officers to review what's coming through in a more thorough and comprehensive manner. This will not only decrease wait times for legal commerce; it will prevent dangerous substances, weapons, and other illicit items from entering our communities. Law enforcement has previously called for this type of support, and I am proud to lead this effort."
Representative Don Davis (D-NC), the bill's cosponsor, also said, "To effectively combat the flood of fentanyl threatening our communities and endangering our children, Congress must prioritize and deploy our frontline personnel in the most strategic and practical ways possible."
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) is introducing the Senate companion version of the legislation, saying, "Adding more personnel at ports of entry will immediately provide our country with another layer of security to prevent traffickers from smuggling weapons or drugs across the border. Border law enforcement has repeatedly asked for more support to analyze cargo images in real time, so this bill also gives them tools they need to catch criminals and secure our border."
