Fiscal Year 2010 CBP Annual Financial Report - CBP.gov

Overview of CBP
Canine Enforcement Teams
CBP has the largest and most diverse law enforcement canine program in the United States. CBP’s canine officers
and Border Patrol agents use specially trained detector dogs to combat terrorist threats, identify explosive threats,
and interdict concealed persons, currency, agriculture, narcotics, and
other contraband at the POEs, at international mail facilities, and along the
border between the POEs. Some CBP detector dogs are trained to perform
Border Patrol Search and Rescue (SAR) missions; 28 canine-agent teams
serve Border Patrol sectors. In FY 2008, Border Patrol initiated the Special
Response Team (SRT) Patrol Canine program, training these teams for use
in tactical high stress situations. These teams are also another tool in CBP’s
ongoing effort to combat border violence to prevent assaults against agents
and illegal aliens and control criminal activity along the border. At present
there are 15 teams deployed along the southwest border.
Canine teams are assigned to 79 POEs and 121 Border Patrol stations, sectors,
and special operations groups throughout the United States. OBP has
three organized canine/horse patrol units, which allow the canine to be
worked alongside the handler riding on horseback. To meet both new and
growing threats, the CBP Canine Program has trained and deployed canine
teams in an array of specialized detection capabilities. CBP has two canine
enforcement training facilities, located in Front Royal, Virginia, and El Paso,
Texas. In FY 2010, CBP trained approximately 456 detector dogs at its training
academies.
Expedited Removal Program
CBP canines are trained to detect
illegal immigrants and contraband.
A key element of CBP’s ongoing effort to deter illegal entry is the implementation and expansion of the Expedited
Removal (ER) program to all Border Patrol sectors. ER is a removal process that requires mandatory detention of
select classes of illegal aliens who can be removed from the United States without an immigration hearing. The ER
process also has built-in provisions to address aliens who believe they have a claim to credible fear of persecution
or torture if they are returned to their home country. An alien who claims fear of return is interviewed by a CIS
asylum officer who determines whether the alien has a credible fear of return. If a claim is determined to be credible,
the alien is not removed from the United States under the provisions of the ER program.
The program was expanded to include illegal aliens apprehended by Border Patrol on the southwest border and
later extended to include apprehensions on the northern border. This includes illegal aliens who are present in the
United States without having been admitted or paroled following inspection by a CBP officer at a designated POE
and within 100 miles of the U.S. border. It also includes those who are unable to establish their physical presence
in the United States for the two-week period prior to the date of encounter.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
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