First RFID Technology Upgrades Complete: CBP

(CBP)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that technology upgrades are complete at the Pacific Highway and Peace Arch border crossings with Canada, and at the Mariposa and DeConcini ports of entry in Nogales, Ariz. These locations mark the start for new Radio Frequency Identification technology deployments at 354 vehicle primary lanes in northern and southern border ports that account for 95% of all cross-border travel into the U.S.

“We are very pleased to announce our first vicinity RFID-enabled land ports of entry, and we thank the border communities for their patience during construction,” said Assistant Commissioner Field Operations Thomas Winkowski. “The option of using an RFID-enabled travel document offers more efficient processing for travelers while meeting CBP’s goal of securing the borders.”

The upgrades, which include new software, hardware, and the deployment of vicinity RFID technology, are being implemented as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. WHTI, a plan to implement the statutory mandates of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and a 9/11 Commission recommendation, requires U.S. and Canadian citizens to present secure documentation that confirms identity and citizenship when entering or re-entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. WHTI will be implemented on June 1, 2009 at land and seaports.

The technology works in tandem with new vicinity RFID-enabled documents, designed for use at our nation’s land and sea ports of entry. These documents include State Department-issued passport cards, CBP’s trusted traveler program (NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST) cards, and enhanced driver’s licenses that are currently available in Washington and New York State. When read by CBP, an RFID chip embedded in these documents transmits a unique number to a secure database as the traveler’s vehicle approaches the border, enabling CBP officers to verify the traveler’s identity and citizenship more quickly than ever. No personally identifiable information is stored on the chip or transmitted when the RFID chip is read. Facilitative technologies, such as RFID, provide CBP officers the ability to remain more attentive and vigilant during the inspection process, focusing more time and attention on travelers, with less time spent performing manual data entry queries.

CBP encourages individuals to apply for the new high-tech documents now to ensure that they have appropriate travel documents when WHTI goes into effect on June 1, 2009. Travelers can go to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Web site (http://www.GetYouHome.gov) for more information.