	Overview on Inspections

The United States now has a unified inspections operation at the borders; one inspector ischarged with examining people, animals, plants, goods, and cargo upon entry to the country. The transfer of these functions to theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) marks a significant policy shift concerning all of thesefunctions, clarifying that -- although there are important commercial, economic, health,humanitarian, and immigration responsibilities -- ensuring the security of our borders is the toppriority. The decision by DHS officials to further integrate the inspection duties so that there is "oneface at the border" now means that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors are essentiallyinterchangeable and responsible for all primary inspections. (1) 
Some argue that this reorganization of border inspections has been long needed and willresult in a more streamlined and efficient set of procedures at the border with a clear, single, chainof command. Others warn that the different types of inspections are quite complex in their own rightand that the reorganization will serve to exacerbate competing priorities, ultimately resulting in manymore people and goods being sent to secondary inspections. Immigration Inspections. Customs Inspections. The INA requires theinspection of all aliens who seek entry into the United States; (33) and in some cases allowsfor preinspection when departing a foreign country on route to the United States. Customs inspections monitor goods being imported into the UnitedStates, including collection of duties and tariffs. Inspection Procedures. Passenger Inspection. Border Inspection Trends by Ports and Modes of Entry

Border inspections conducted each year number in the hundreds of millions. Agricultural inspections were a distantthird, but APHIS still completed 44 million animal and plant inspections of passengers in FY2002. Unlike customs and immigration inspections data, APHIS data enumerate only those passengersreferred to secondary inspections for the purpose of an agricultural inspection. According to his testimony these numbers currentlystand at 22.6% of rail containers, 5.2% of sea containers, and 15.1% of trucks entering the UnitedStates. Budget and Staffing for Inspections

Border inspections are funded through a combination of federal discretionary appropriationsand user fees. For FY2004, CBP was given budget authority of $2,496 million for border security,inspections, and trade facilitation at POEs. These historic funding data are not comparable across agencies and, as noted below, mayinclude activities in addition to the inspection functions. Animal and Plant Health Functions

Agricultural animal and plant health inspections are funded through a combination of federalappropriations and user fees. Issues and Concerns

As discussed above, CBP inspectors are charged with enforcing a host of laws andconducting hundreds of millions of inspections annually. (107) 
9/11 Commission Recommendations. 5024 ) hadvarious provisions affecting border inspections. 10 as passed would expand pre-inspection programs in foreigncountries and assistance to air carriers at selected foreign airports in the detection of fraudulentdocuments; would limit the President's ability to waive general statutory requirements for U.S.citizens traveling abroad or attempting to enter the United States to bear a valid U.S. passport, so thatsuch a waiver can only be exercised with respect to U.S. citizens traveling to or from foreigncontiguous territories who are bearing identification documents designated by DHS as (1) reliableproof of U.S. citizenship, and (2) of a type that may not be issued to an unlawfully present alienwithin the United States; and would amend the present waiver authority concerning documentrequirements for arriving nationals from foreign contiguous countries or adjacent islands, so thatsuch waivers may only be granted (in non-emergency situations) through a joint determination bythe Secretary of DHS and Secretary of State on the basis of reciprocity, and then only if the arrivingforeign national is in possession of identification documents deemed secure by the Secretary of DHS. The National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 (P.L.108-458).
The United States now has a unified inspections operation at the borders; a single inspectoris charged with examining people, animals, plants, goods, and cargo upon entry to the country. Thetransfer of these functions to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) marks a significant policyshift for all of these functions, clarifying that -- although there are important commercial, economic,health, humanitarian, and immigration responsibilities -- ensuring the security of our borders is thetop priority. The decision by DHS officials to further integrate the inspection duties so that there is"one face at the border" now means that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors areessentially interchangeable and responsible for all primary inspections. A range of legal,administrative, and policy issues have emerged with unified border inspections. Legislationimplementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations -- the National Intelligence Reform Act of2004 ( P.L. 108-458 ) -- had various provisions affecting border inspections.
CBP inspectors are charged with enforcing a host of laws. Immigration law requires theinspection of all aliens who seek entry into the United States, and every person is inspected todetermine citizenship status and admissibility. All goods being imported into the United States aresubject to a customs inspection, but an actual physical inspection of all goods is not required. Therealso are laws that subject animals and plants to border inspections. This report provides a discussionof these various laws and the procedural differences in what constitutes an "inspection."
Border inspections conducted each year number in the hundreds of millions. Prior to thecreation of CBP, the Department of Justice's immigration inspectors did most passenger inspections-- peaking at 534 million in FY2000 -- since all foreign nationals seeking entry into the United Statesmust be inspected. In terms of customs inspections, approximately 22.6% of rail containers; 5.2%of sea containers; and 15.1% of trucks entering the United States were physically inspected. Unlikecustoms and immigration inspections data, animal and plant health inspections data enumerate onlythose passengers referred to secondary inspections for the purpose of an agricultural inspection. There were 44 million animal and plant inspections in FY2002.
Border inspections are funded through a combination of federal discretionary appropriationsand user fees. In FY2004, CBP was given budget authority of $2,496 million for border security,inspections, and trade facilitation at ports of entry. Historic funding data for inspections are notcomparable across the "legacy" agencies as the budget data often included activities in addition tothe inspection functions.
Some argue that this reorganization of border inspections has been long needed and isresulting in a more streamlined and efficient set of procedures at the border with a clear, single, chainof command. Others warn that the different types of inspections are quite complex in their own rightand that the reorganization is exacerbating the conflicting priorities at the border, ultimately resultingin many more people and goods being sent to secondary inspections.
Key Policy Staff: Border Inspections