The global pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), requiring innovative solutions to maintain operational effectiveness while prioritizing personnel safety. A critical aspect of this adaptation was ensuring frontline officers remained proficient in using essential tools, particularly advanced scanner equipments designed to scan cars at border entry points. This article explores how CBP successfully navigated these challenges by implementing virtual training programs for mobile car scanner technology, ensuring the continued security of US borders.
When COVID-19 restrictions disrupted traditional in-person training, CBP’s Non-Intrusive Inspection Division’s Training Logistics and Support Branch (NIID-TLSB) swiftly transitioned to a decentralized, video-based training model. This proactive approach ensured that the deployment of vital scanner equipments was not hindered, and officers received the necessary certification to operate these tools effectively.
“The TLSB training plan has evolved significantly during COVID-19,” explained Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Guillermo Jimenez, NIID-TLSB program manager. “Despite the limitations imposed by social distancing and travel restrictions, our team adopted an ‘adapt and overcome’ mentality. This allowed us to remain focused on delivering crucial training to the field, ensuring our agents have the tools and knowledge they need.”
This shift to virtual training yielded significant benefits, most notably in cost savings and increased training accessibility. Previously, in-residence courses could only accommodate a limited number of students and were dependent on assembling sufficient enrollment to justify deploying trainers. In contrast, the virtual model allowed courses to proceed with as few as two students, maximizing resource utilization and accelerating the deployment of trained personnel to ports of entry.
The urgency of this adaptation was underscored by the arrival of new mobile scanner equipments at ports of entry in Arizona, California, and Texas. These advanced mobile vehicle and passenger scanners required specialized training to ensure CBP officers could utilize them to their full potential.
“The delivery of this new equipment coincided with the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns,” noted TLSB Branch Chief Eric Demarest. “Fortunately, we had Field Training Cadre already in place and certified. Even with travel restrictions, these local FTCs were able to provide the essential training to the officers who needed it immediately.”
This new mobile vehicle and passenger scanner represents a significant advancement in CBP’s non-intrusive inspection capabilities.
The implementation of this mobile car scanner, facilitated by the adaptable virtual training program, has proven instrumental in enhancing border security and interdicting illegal activities. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jimenez emphasized the real-world impact of these scanner equipments: “As a field supervisor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of NII equipment when used correctly. It’s incredibly valuable to enhance the safety of our officers and agents by providing them with a ‘preview’ of potential threats hidden within vehicles, thanks to the training they receive on NII equipment.”
The effectiveness of both the scanner equipments and the virtual training model was immediately validated. In one instance, CBP officers, on their final day of training with the new mobile scanner, successfully located and seized a substantial narcotics shipment. This seizure, achieved in collaboration with a canine team and other officers, highlighted the scanner’s practical application in real-world scenarios. Since its deployment in February, this mobile scanner has contributed to the seizure of nearly 220 pounds of methamphetamine.
“This success demonstrates not only the equipment’s imaging capabilities but also the effectiveness of our adapted training approach during the crisis,” Demarest stated. “Officers who had recently completed the virtual training were directly involved in significant narcotics seizures within days, proving the immediate impact of this new methodology.”
A key feature of the mobile scanner system is its low X-ray output, which allows vehicles to be scanned without requiring drivers and passengers to exit. This contrasts with fixed inspection systems that necessitate separate scans for vehicles and occupants. CBP Officer Cory Nelson, assigned to the Lukeville Port of Entry in Arizona and credited with multiple narcotics seizures using the mobile scanner, noted the improved experience for travelers. “Because passengers remain in the vehicle during scanning, it tends to create a more relaxed and comfortable interaction for those crossing the border.”
Garret Reinhart, NIID branch chief, further detailed the scanner’s operational advantages. “This system provides a top-down image of the vehicle as it drives through, offering an excellent overview of areas that officers might not typically have the time to thoroughly inspect during standard processing.”
Officer Nelson added, “The scanner produces an almost instantaneous image. With proper training and some practice, operators can quickly discern normal vehicle components from anomalies. A well-trained team can efficiently scan, analyze the image, and decide whether to release the vehicle or refer it for secondary inspection in a very short timeframe – just a minute or two.”
Looking ahead, CBP is committed to expanding the decentralized training model and incorporating more courses onto the virtual platform. This ongoing adaptation ensures that CBP officers remain at the forefront of border security technology, equipped with the latest scanner equipments and the expertise to utilize them effectively, thereby safeguarding US borders at ports of entry nationwide.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for managing, controlling, and protecting our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP’s mission is to secure the borders of the United States while simultaneously facilitating lawful trade and travel, enforcing hundreds of laws and regulations.
