Legislation aimed at addressing personnel shortages at ports of entry was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate last week.
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act to fully staff America’s airports, seaports and land ports of entry by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire no fewer than 1,000 additional officers annually until staffing needs are met.
“Customs and Border Protection officers play a vital role in ensuring the smooth flow of lawful trade and travel through our ports of entry, while also working tirelessly to prevent illegal activities like drug trafficking,” Peters said. “This bipartisan bill is an important step toward addressing the staffing shortages that have placed immense pressure on these officers. By providing the necessary support, we can help CBP operate more effectively and maintain Michigan’s critical role in international commerce.”
The bill will also require ports of entry to report on infrastructure improvements that will enhance drug interdiction, information on detection equipment to help officers identify drugs better and safety equipment that protects officers. Addressing a shortage of CBP officers will reduce travelers wait times and speed critical cargo through ports, the law makers said.
“When ports of entry aren’t sufficiently staffed, we run the risk of legitimate trade and travel grinding to a halt,” Cornyn said. “Nowhere do we feel this more acutely than in Texas where we have more ports of entry than any other state, which is why I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to ensure our ports have the personnel needed to handle the safe and legal flow of people and goods into our nation.”