However, Border Patrol officials have stated that additional canines, non- intrusive inspection technology, and staff are needed to increase  checkpoint effectiveness. Apprehending Illegal Aliens

Checkpoints have also contributed to apprehensions of illegal aliens. Checkpoint Performance Measures Have Been Established, but Data Limitations Hinder their Usefulness

The Border Patrol established a number of measures for checkpoint  performance to inform the public on program results and provide  management oversight; however, information gaps and reporting issues  have hindered public accountability, and inconsistent data collection and  entry have hindered management’s ability to monitor the need for program  improvement. The Border Patrol first reported the  checkpoint performance results for these three measures in CBP’s fiscal  year 2007 PAR. This  includes the accurate recording and reporting of data necessary to  demonstrate agency operations. Unclear definitions in guidance. Border Patrol Considered Community Impact in Checkpoint Placement and Design

Among other factors, the Border Patrol considered community safety and  convenience in recent checkpoint placement and design decisions, in  accordance with Border Patrol guidelines and requirements of other  federal, state, and local agencies. Community Members Cited Some Adverse Impacts of Checkpoint Operations, and Border Patrol Reported Having Limited Resources to Minimize Them

Community members living near checkpoints we visited across the four  southwest border states told us they generally supported checkpoints  operating near them because of the law enforcement presence they  provide, but remained most concerned about the property damage that  occurs when illegal aliens trespass on private property to avoid the  checkpoints. Border Patrol policy highlights the need to detect and  respond to this circumvention activity; however, officials stated that other  priorities sometimes precluded positioning more than a minimum number  of agents and resources on checkpoint circumvention routes. However, given the limited  resources currently deployed to address circumvention activity at the I-19  checkpoint and community concerns regarding the extent of illegal  activity in the circumvention areas, conducting a workforce planning  needs assessment at the checkpoint design stage could help the Border  Patrol ensure that sufficient resources are planned for and deployed at the  new checkpoint to address circumvention activity. The Department’s Director  believed that this was due, in part, to the presence of the Border Patrol  agents at the checkpoints on U.S. Border Patrol Has Identified Measures for Assessing Impact of Checkpoint Operations on Surrounding Areas, but Has Not Used Them

Border Patrol officials said that they are not yet using performance  measures they had developed to examine how checkpoint operations— including checkpoint circumvention activity—impact the quality of life in  surrounding communities. Despite these investments at the border, however, it  would appear that checkpoints will continue to serve a purpose as part of  the Border Patrol’s three-tiered strategy. Establish internal controls for management oversight of the accuracy,  consistency, and completeness of checkpoint performance data. To ensure that the checkpoint design process results in checkpoints that  are sized and resourced to meet operational and community needs, we  recommend that the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection  take the following two actions:    Require that current and expected traffic volumes be considered by  the Border Patrol when determining the number of inspection lanes at  new permanent checkpoints, that traffic studies be conducted and  documented, and that these requirements be explicitly documented in  Border Patrol checkpoint design guidelines and standards. Checkpoint Contributions

To assess the contributions checkpoints make to the Border Patrol’s  mission and the factors that affect checkpoint performance, we reviewed  Border Patrol policy and guidance regarding checkpoint operations and  interviewed officials at Border Patrol headquarters, including the Chief  and other senior managers, and officials responsible for operating  checkpoints in five of the nine Border Patrol sectors on the southwest  border. These checkpoint  performance measures reported in the PAR are (1) apprehensions at  checkpoints as a percentage of total Border Patrol apprehensions, (2) drug  seizures at checkpoints as a percentage of total Border Patrol drug  seizures, and (3) percentage of checkpoint cases referred to a U.S.  Attorney. 4. 19.
Why GAO Did This Study

The U.S. Border Patrol, part of the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP), operates checkpoints on U.S. roads, mainly in the southwest border states where most illegal entries occur. As part of a three-tiered strategy to maximize detection and apprehension of illegal aliens, Border Patrol agents at checkpoints screen vehicles for illegal aliens and contraband. GAO was asked to assess (1) checkpoint performance and factors affecting performance, (2) checkpoint performance measures, (3) community impacts considered in checkpoint placement and design, and (4) the impact of checkpoint operations on nearby communities. GAO work included a review of Border Patrol data and guidance; visits to checkpoints and communities in five Border Patrol sectors across four southwest border states, selected on the basis of size, type, and volume, among other factors; and discussions with community members and Border Patrol officials in headquarters and field locations.

What GAO Found

Checkpoints have contributed to the Border Patrol's ability to seize illegal drugs, apprehend illegal aliens, and screen potential terrorists; however, several factors have impeded higher levels of performance. Checkpoint contributions included over one-third of the Border Patrol's total drug seizures, according to Border Patrol data. Despite these and other contributions, Border Patrol officials said that additional staff, canine teams, and inspection technology were needed to increase checkpoint effectiveness. Border Patrol officials said they plan to increase these resources. The Border Patrol established three performance measures to report the results of checkpoint operations, and while they provide some insight into checkpoint activity, they do not indicate if checkpoints are operating efficiently and effectively. In addition, GAO found that a lack of management oversight and unclear checkpoint data collection guidance resulted in the overstatement of checkpoint performance results in fiscal year 2007 and 2008 agency performance reports, as well as inconsistent data collection practices at checkpoints. These factors hindered management's ability to monitor the need for program improvement. Internal control standards require that agencies accurately record and report data necessary to demonstrate agency performance, and that they provide proper oversight of these activities. The Border Patrol generally followed its guidelines for considering community safety and convenience in four recent checkpoint placement and design decisions, including the proposed permanent checkpoint on Interstate 19 in Arizona. Current and projected traffic volume was a key factor in the design of the proposed Interstate 19 checkpoint, but was not considered when determining the number of inspection lanes for three recently completed checkpoints in Texas due to a lack of guidance. Having explicit guidance on using current and projected traffic volumes could help ensure that future checkpoints are appropriately sized. Individuals GAO contacted who live near checkpoints generally supported their operations but expressed concerns regarding property damage that occurs when illegal aliens and smugglers circumvent checkpoints to avoid apprehension. The Border Patrol is not yet using performance measures it has developed to examine the extent that checkpoint operations affect quality of life in surrounding communities. The Border Patrol uses patrols and technology to detect and respond to circumventions, but officials said that other priorities sometimes precluded positioning more than a minimum number of agents on checkpoint circumvention routes. The Border Patrol has not documented the number of agents needed to address circumventions at the proposed I-19 checkpoint. Given the concerns of nearby residents regarding circumventions, conducting a workforce planning needs assessment at the checkpoint design stage could help ensure that resources needed for addressing such activity are planned for and deployed.