Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (week one)

Today was my first day on the job as an officer/agent/who knows what of the new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP).

The purpose of this thread is to give everyone a glimpse inside the BCBP. I will post to this thread daily and create a new thread weekly.

Feel free to ask me anything you wish about what is going on, but understand that I will not compromise myself or national security. I will give you insight that will not be provided by the media and answer what questions I can.

As expected, not much has changed. I’m still wearing my old INS Inspector uniform, and performing the exact same duties as before.

At our Port of Entry (POE), the top US Customs supervisor has been named as the Port Director (PD) or Port Coordinator (PC). My upper chain of command has changed drastically, but that does really effect me, as my immediate supervisor is still the same.

The PD/PC reports to his same boss at the regional Customs office. Our INS district office and it’s service personnel went to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. That is good, in my opinion.

Currently, my supervisor and the PD/PC have decided that there will be no operational changes in the way the port is run. Agriculture will conduct their business, Customs will conduct their business and INS will conduct our business.

Since Customs does not micro manage as much as INS did, some of our reports have been eliminated. They were never needed, but INS management wanted reports on everything to cover their butts. So there is a little less paperwork at the end of the day for us and our supervisor.

The biggest change came in the form of radiation beepers. We have been issued radiation beepers to carry, while inspecting passengers. The idea is to hopefully detect any radioactive material entering the country.

Unfortunately, in the Governments move for good PR, the beepers have to be worn by us at the front of the inspection area. While that may sound correct, the passengers do not have their luggage when us former INS officers inspect them. Once we are done, they collect their luggage end report to Customs and Agriculture.

This is were you want the pagers. More than likely, the smuggler will have the material in his luggage as opposed to on his person. Typical Government move. We sent a message to HQ explaining this, but we’re sure it will fall on deaf ears.

Subject: Information for CBP Employees
Author: BCBP Transition
Date: 2/28/2003 6:41 PM

MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER JAYSON P. AHERN TO ALL CBP EMPLOYEES

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) "Day One Leadership Conference" was held this week in Reston, Virginia, bringing together the executive leadership team and the principal field managers from the U.S. Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Dept. of Agriculture (AQI). The theme of the conference, derived from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, was "One Team, One Fight."

Commissioner Bonner stated that we are responsible for carrying out our primary mission of detecting and preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the U.S., while facilitating the orderly and efficient flow of legitimate trade and people. He also stressed that we carry out the traditional roles of each respective agency joining CBP. He stated that CBP would build on the expertise of our employees and the combined agency traditions of: Service to Country, Honor, and Integrity.

The Commissioner wants to begin by establishing a clear, understandable chain of command for all CBP personnel, from the field to Headquarters. As the Assistant Commissioner for CBP, I will be overseeing the Office of Field Operations, the field management centers, and all ports of entry. This brings many challenges and many opportunities. My senior level management team will consist of Mr. William Heffelfinger, who will remain as my Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Mike Cronin, Associate Commissioner for Immigration Policy and Programs, Ms. Mary Neal, Associate Commissioner for Agriculture Quarantine Inspections (AQI) Policy and Programs, Mr. Robert Jacksta, Executive Director, Border Security and Facilitation, Ms. Elizabeth Durant, Executive Director, Trade Compliance and Facilitation, and Ms. Patricia Duffy, Executive Director, Operations. This week, the interim Directors of Field Operations and the interim Port Directors were named at the Day One conference. We have assembled a formidable management team, ready and able to face the many challenges that lie ahead.

Managers from AQI, USCS, and INS will need to spend time with each other to learn each other's missions. We have an unprecedented opportunity to look at our borders, processes and inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement. No federal agency will have a greater responsibility for carrying out the anti-terrorism mission than CBP. We will move forward carefully and thoughtfully to make sure that we do the right thing. We also know that change creates anxiety, and we won't lose sight of the many "people aspects" of this change.

Training will be key as we move forward in this organization. We need to reach out to the Trade Community so that they know the Trade mission will not be diminished as of March 1. We will maintain our close working relationships with the Customs and INS agents that will comprise the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE). We will create a better, more efficient Bureau. We will establish a stronger, more unified workforce.

Our role at the border places us squarely in the line of sight of terrorist organizations. The stakes are high and we all need to remain focused. A moment's distraction can have a devastating effect on our country. In the days, weeks, and months ahead, CBP will respond to the challenges we face together. We are the guardians of the border, America's Frontline. We are One Team with One Fight.

Subject: Message to All CBP Employees
Author: BCBP Transition
Date: 2/28/2003 6:37 PM

*********************************************************************

Message from Commissioner Bonner to All CBP Employees
February 28, 2003

For almost a year and a half -- since the terrorist attacks of 9-11 -- America has been at war with international terrorism. Tomorrow, we have not just a new Department, but a new agency -- a single, unified border agency to fight terrorism -- the Customs and Border Protection Bureau.

As the sole and unified border agency of the United States, our mission is vitally important to the protection of America and the American people. Simply put, our priority mission is to detect and prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. That's a big job. I know that. But with our combined resources, by merging the skills and talents and best practices of the men and women of Customs, Immigration, the Border Patrol, and Agriculture's APHIS-AQI, we can do it. We will be far more effective, combined and unified, than we were when we were separate agencies. We will better protect our nation from the international terrorist groups that seek to enter our country, or bring terrible weapons - terrorist weapons - including weapons of mass destruction to destroy our cities and to kill our people.

We are the vanguard for America. We are America's frontline. We are the guardians of our nation's borders. We will do the job that needs to be done to protect America against the terrorist threat -- a threat that manifested itself on 9-11, but that is, unfortunately, a real and continuing threat that will be with us for years to come.

We must organize better, train better, and work together as a team to accomplish our priority mission, while also continuing to perform our traditional missions well. We must continue apprehending individuals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally; we must continue to stem the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband; we must continue to protect our agricultural and economic interests from harmful pests and diseases; we must protect American businesses from theft of their intellectual property; we must continue regulating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws; and we must perform our all important security mission in a way that does not choke off the flow of legitimate trade and people that pose no harm to our country.

Each agency coming into the new CBP brings with it its own history and traditions. Now, as one unified team, we will build on those traditions -- traditions of honor, courage, service to country, integrity, and professionalism. And you will have new opportunities as part of a new agency and a new department of government with an extraordinarily important mission. It is the dawn of a new era -- where we can and will provide better protection for our nation and our people.

I welcome each of you to the Customs and Border Protection Bureau. Together, we will make a difference.

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WEEK ONE