The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee June 17 indicated its intention to increase the use of technology and improve communication among various agencies to secure port and border areas.

Toward that end, Committee Chairman John McCain, R-AZ, announced that he and others – including Chuck Schumer, D-NY, Hillary Clinton, D-NY, Barbara Boxer, D-CA, John Kyl, R-AZ – have introduced the Border Security and Technology Integration Act. The bill was developed in collaboration with Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-AZ, who introduced the House version.

“An estimated 1 million people enter this country illegally every year,” McCain said. “Although the vast majority of these individuals do not intend to harm our nation, we must recognize that our borders are porous and pose a significant vulnerability.”

The bill would direct the Border and Transportation Directorate and the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct vulnerability assessments to determine the technology and equipment requirements needed to improve security, and to establish two new border technology pilot programs to address aerial and ground surveillance.

Effect on trucking

Asa Hutchison, under secretary at the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, outlined what has been done to improve security via technology and what will be done in the future.

Many efforts affect trucking.

“We have forged new partnerships with the Department of Interior, state and local governments, tribal communities and our international partners to protect border lands and to implement joint programs to facilitate travel and trade,” Hutchison said.

He noted increased efforts to target and inspect cargo arriving by truck, sea and train – including the use of radiation detection monitors and inspection equipment.

“As an example, more than 200 radiation portal monitors have been deployed at our land borders, mail facilities and seaports,” he said. “In addition, 150 large scale non-intrusive inspection systems are currently in use at our borders, seaports, rail crossings and airports.”

Technology plans

Hutchison said unmanned aerial vehicles have been obtained and the Homeland Security Department would begin test flights over border areas from June 18-22, 2004.

Some other efforts: Heartbeat detectors would allow officials to determine the number of individuals in a particular vehicle or enclosed area; language translators would allow more effective communications with those apprehended; long-range acoustic devices permit officials to broadcast over a loudspeaker for hundreds of yards; and directional listening devices can detect border activity in remote regions.

Meanwhile, Hutchison said the Homeland Security Department had increased its border patrol presence.

“The Customs and Border Patrol inspectional staff has been increased on the northern border to more than 3,400 from 1,600 at pre-9/11 levels, and on the southern border from 4,300 to 5,100,” he said.

Sen. McCain said, “The solution to improving border security is two part: We must couple comprehensive immigration reform with improvements in infrastructure and enforcement in the border region. Without addressing these issues in tandem, we will never secure the border.”