Stimulus Funds to Beef Up Border Protection

(Journal of Commerce Online – Bill Mongelluzzo)

Enhanced security could cost as much as $5 billion

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is stepping up its efforts to secure the nation’s land borders, and the agency is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars to support its efforts. Jayson Ahern, acting commissioner, said CBP will receive $420 million in federal stimulus funds for border security, and the General Services Administration will receive $300 million for border facility enhancements.

Ahern said Wednesday at the annual conference of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America this funding will be a “good first step” toward the estimated $5 billion needed to build infrastructure and upgrade border facilities. […]

…CBP is pressing the trade community to provide more information about imported products from as far back in the supply chain as possible. CBP in January published its interim final rule on the advanced finally requirement known as 10-plus-two. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register in June, Ahern said. Read more here.