A bill that would waive the required pre-employment polygraph examination for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) candidates under certain circumstances was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Introduced by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), the Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017 seeks to address the large number of open positions among CBP officers and Border Patrol agents. Due to the lengthy process of applying for CBP positions, the resulting backlog of candidates has led to more than 1,000 open CBP positions and more than 1,800 open Border Patrol positions.
The bill gives the CBP Commissioner limited discretion to waive the required tests for candidates who are either state or local law enforcement officers who have already passed a polygraph examination within the last three years, federal law enforcement officers who have already passed a strict background check, and military veterans with at least three consecutive years of active duty and passed a background check.
Additionally, no candidate may be considered if they are subject to an internal investigation within their respective departments.
“All of the technology and infrastructure deployed along the southern border is useless if we don’t have a well-trained agent or officer present to intercept a drug load, screen cargo, or speed legitimate transit through a port of entry,” McSally said. “By giving CBP discretionary ability to hire qualified, vetted individuals who already have earned public trust, this bill will increase the security of our nation and facilitate cross-border commerce and tourism – so vital to the Arizona and national economy.”
The bill will now be considered by the Senate.