Among other responsibilities, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is charged with maintaining and strengthening physical borders with Mexico (a total of 1,900 miles) and Canada (more than 5,000 miles), as well as 95,000 miles of shore. CBP team members conduct activities across a spectrum of inspection, intelligence analysis, examination and law enforcement. To properly compensate its officials and to enable this work, the organization is asking for $19.76 billion in fiscal year 2025.
This is roughly a third of the Department of Homeland Securityâs overall budget request. It would partially go toward expanding and running forward operating laboratories such as the Joint Fentanyl Signature Laboratory, according to DHS. The latter would help with research on and testing of the deadly drug, which has proliferated in the last several years.
CBP officials, including the agencyâs Chief Technology Officer Sunil Madhugiri, will have a large presence at the Potomac Officers Clubâs 2024 Homeland Security Summit. This Nov. 13 event will helpfully deliver all of the latest updates government contractors need to know about DHSâ partnerships with the industrial base and its goals for next year. Donât miss out!
Making History
The agency has reportedly collected 50,000 pounds of fentanyl in the last two years alone and views this as a top concern. In August, they even notched what is understood as the biggest seizure of the drug by CBP ever: 4 million pills at the Lukeville Port of Entry. With budget approval, more milestones like this may be reached.
What Are CBPâs Priorities?
Among CBPâs foremost priorities is its twofold objective of âtrade facilitation and protection of revenue.â The agency is also dedicated to securing the border, supporting national security and contingency operations, and facilitating lawful travel.
Whatâs Next for CBP?
In addition to fentanyl seizure and inspection activities, DHS says CBP wants to deepen its arsenal of incident-driven video recording systems, a.k.a. IDVRS. This approximately $30 million project would add body-worn cameras, vehicle-mounted cameras and in-vessel routers, and both agents and vehicles would be equipped with holster and vehicle automatic activation units.
At the end of last year, the agency recorded a whopping 250,000 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, which was an all-time high. This accelerated interest in accessing the U.S. continued through mid-2024 but has reportedly been ramping down. Nonetheless, the agency is intent on securing its request to be able to meet demand and address everyone coming in or attempting to do so.
At the 2024 Homeland Security Summit, learn about how CBP is using automation, artificial intelligence and modernized customer experience programs to achieve its goals. This is an essential annual Potomac Officers Club event that is a requirement for GovCons in national security. Send your best representatives to the Hilton McLean on Nov. 13!
