Subcommittee Chairman Guest Opens Hearing on CBP’s Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) delivered the following opening statement in a hearing to examine U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) use of non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology. NII technology plays a critical role in detecting and interdicting illicit narcotics, concealed currency, contraband, and individuals being smuggled across the country's borders. House Republicans' reconciliation package, which was signed into law by President Trump last year, included more than $1 billion for NII.

Watch Chairman Guest's opening statement here .

As prepared for delivery:

Welcome to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement hearing on U.S. Customs and Border Protection's use of non-intrusive inspection technology - or NII - at our borders.

CBP's non-intrusive inspection equipment uses technology to locate concealed items such as drugs, weapons, or people in vehicles and cargo. As cartels and other smuggling operations develop more sophisticated means of concealing drugs and contraband, the government must adapt to stay ahead of these evolving threats, and the expansion of the NII program will play a crucial role in this effort.

CBP mans the frontline in our efforts to keep threats out of our country, and NII has been an integral tool for CBP's mission. NII enables CBP to detect and interdict contraband while minimizing the impact to the flow of lawful trade and travel at our borders.

Pursuant to the "Securing America's Ports Act of 2021," CBP was tasked to develop a plan to reach a 100 percent high throughput NII scanning rate at land ports of entry by 2027. As of fiscal year 2024, CBP fell short of that goal, using NII to examine approximately only eight percent of passenger vehicles and 27 percent of commercial vehicles.

These low scan rates can be partially attributed to poor planning and mismanagement, from acquisition, to installation and deployment of the NII equipment. Reports from both the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office have raised concerns with both program management and outlook.

NII program leaders have assured oversight bodies that they have made changes to their structure, staffing, management, and standards to ensure scan rates reflect the amount of taxpayer dollars the program has received.

Ultimately, regardless of the prior shortcomings in the NII program, the capabilities NII affords to our frontline CBP officers keeping our ports secure are invaluable. We must continue to invest responsibly in NII technology. This technology has a proven track record in facilitating CBP's ability to detect and prevent smuggling into our country.

Additionally, having just ended a year with record low illegal border crossings, CBP has the opportunity to invest resources in developing/deploying of security measures along our borders, including NII, to further strengthen our national security.

To aid in this effort, Congress provided a historic investment in the "Budget Reconciliation Bill" to enhance and improve NII at our borders. With the appropriation of these additional funds Congress must provide additional oversight to ensure this investment in the NII program is wisely and efficiently allocated.

I am cautiously optimistic that prudent decisions from NII leadership within CBP, oversight from Congress, and technological advancements in industry, will allow CBP to achieve 100 percent scanning.

I would like to thank our witnesses for their participation today, and for briefing Ranking Member Correa and myself prior to this hearing. I look forward to working with my colleagues to enhance and prioritize CBP's non-intrusive inspection program.

###