Year: 2023

SENTRI Lanes to Open at Paso Del Norte Port of Entry

SENTRI Lanes to Open at Paso Del Norte Port of Entry

Drivers who are enrolled in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) program will have a third option for entering the U.S. from Mexico in El Paso and Juarez area. U.S. and Mexican officials will initiate SENTRI service at the Paso Del Norte (PDN) international crossing at 8a.m., Dec. 1.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaborated for months with their Mexican counterparts to expand the SENTRI service to the downtown crossing. The easternmost lane of the international bridge is now segregated from regular traffic. At least one and as many as four of the easternmost inspection booths at the PDN facility will be designated for SENTRI use depending upon demand. Electronic signage located above the inspection booths will direct SENTRI users.

“The need for additional SENTRI service has been demonstrated by the growing popularity of this trusted traveler program, especially in the downtown area,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “It is important to note that enrollment in SENTRI does not offer a free pass to the U.S. CBP officers may still conduct exams to verify that SENTRI users are not violating any laws upon their arrival.”

During fiscal year 2021, just over one million vehicles were processed at the Stanton international crossing SENTRI lane. During fiscal year 2023 the number exceeded 1.5 million. Enrollments in trusted traveler programs in the El Paso area are also increasing. In fiscal year 2021 there were approximately 82,000 people enrolled in the program. In fiscal year 2023, the number has now exceeded 100,000.

The infrastructure constraints of the Stanton SENTRI lanes and the proximity of the Paso Del Norte crossing supported the expansion of SENTRI to further CBP’s mission priorities of facilitating lawful travel and continued growth in trusted traveler programs.

Commonly known as the Dedicated Commuter Lane (DCL) in the EL Paso area, the popular DCL lanes were first introduced at the Stanton international crossing in 1999. DCL service was then established at the Ysleta port of entry several years later. It is also available for pedestrian users of the PDN crossing.

INTERPOL Unveils New Biometric Screening Tool

INTERPOL Unveils New Biometric Screening Tool

In mid-November, a fugitive migrant smuggler was subject to a police check in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina with a group of migrants crossing the Balkans towards Western Europe.

Wanted on organized crime and human trafficking charges since 2021, the smuggler presented himself as a fellow migrant under a false name, using a fraudulent identification document to avoid detection.

The police check, however, was part of an INTERPOL operation that saw the Biometric Hub — a new tool that checks biometric data against the organization’s global fingerprint and facial recognition databases — used remotely for the first time.

When the smuggler’s photo was run through the Biometric Hub, it immediately flagged that he was wanted in another European country. He was arrested and is currently awaiting extradition.

The operation, which took place across six countries in the Adriatic region, was part of INTERPOL’s Hotspot initiative, which uses biometric data to help detect foreign terrorist fighters and criminals who try to cross irregular border points.

“A fugitive can change their name and many aspects of their appearance to try and escape justice, but it is difficult if not impossible to change your biometric data. This is why biometrics remain the most reliable way to identify someone,” said Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s director of operational support and analysis. “The Biometric Hub helps law enforcement officers know right away whether the person in front of them poses a security risk. This is especially important in situations where travel documents are not available or trustworthy.”

Underpinning the BioHub is a ‘biometric core’ that encompasses INTERPOL’s existing fingerprint and facial recognition together with a matching system based on technology developed by the company IDEMIA.

An effective tool for screening individuals crossing a border, the BioHub can also be used for regular police operations within a country.

Over the next two years, the tool will be progressively rolled out to border points and frontline officers across INTERPOL’s membership.

The system is expected to perform up to one million forensic searches per day, including fingerprints, palm prints and portraits.

Previous checks against INTERPOL’s biometric databases were subject to separate, multi-step processes that systematically included human handling or review, meaning that any hits would not be immediately flagged to the requesting officer.

With the BioHub, officers can submit data to both databases through a single interface, which swiftly provides results and allows users to monitor the status of their requests.

Human review from INTERPOL’s forensic experts is only required in cases where the quality of the captured biometric data is such that the match falls below a designated threshold.

Crucially, the BioHub also further improves data governance, in line with INTERPOL’s robust data protection framework.

Biometric data run through the Hub in a search is not added to INTERPOL’s criminal databases, is not visible to other users and any data that does not result in a match is deleted following the search.

The Biometric Hub was rolled out in October and is now available to all 196 member countries.

Wearable Tech Mitigates First Responder Exposure to Chemical Threats

Emergency responders are dispatched to calls for situations ranging from industrial, agricultural, and commercial accidents to five-alarm fires. In these moments, they are relied upon to render aid swiftly and efficiently, even if it means risking their personal safety. This is why the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is leading a new effort to arm responders with state-of-the-art technology that alerts them to toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) that may be present in the field.

Their goal is to support the development (and, ultimately commercialization) of a cost-effective, wearable, customizable, and reusable chemical sensor that allows first-on-scene personnel to respond to a wide variety of emergencies quickly and safely.

“Our emergency responders need to have the most up-to-date technologies and tools that will enable them to safely answer these calls,” said Kimberli Jones-Holt, S&T program manager. “We are collaborating with several partners to ensure that they have access to these resources, and also enhance existing technologies to provide more convenient and affordable safety capabilities.”

Thanks to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, S&T joined forces with TDA Research inc. (TDA), the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, the Fairmount Fire Department in Golden, Colorado, and additional government and private stakeholders to develop a portable chemical sensor that detects TICs (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, phosphine, hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide) that firefighters and other similar emergency responders could potentially be exposed to during a response. Following the successful completion of a Phase I contract, TDA was awarded an additional 24-month SBIR Phase II contract to develop a simple low-cost wearable sensor badge, and then continued further development of their technology through a 12-month SBIR Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program (CRPP) award.

“TICs are commonly found in many industries and are often used as a crucial part of manufacturing, refining, and other commercial processes and related activities,” explained Jones-Holt. “As a result, when industrial or chemical emergencies, fires, or natural disasters occur, it’s very likely that firefighters and other first-on-scene personnel will encounter them when they respond to calls in the field.”

“TICs can be easily inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin, causing irritation of the nose, mouth, throat, eyes, and skin,” continued Jones-Holt. “Depending on the type of TIC, prolonged exposure can be deadly. Therefore, it’s crucial that emergency responders are properly equipped to deal with and be protected from them.”

To meet this crucial need, TDA developed and deployed prototype wearable chemical sensor badges with firefighters and emergency responders at the Fairmount Fire Department to demonstrate and verify that the badges could quickly and accurately alert users to the presence of dangerous TICs. These devices are meant to improve situational awareness and enable responders to leave the scene before any harmful exposure and associated injuries occur.

“My hope is that these wearable chemical sensor badges will prove to be an effective and comfortable tool that increases situational awareness and supplements the current chemical and gas sensors that are being used by our first responders,” said Jones-Holt.

Most existing chemical and gas sensor technologies are expensive and bulky, which is not ideal for agencies that often contend with tight budgets for equipment and limited space on vehicles. TDA’s wearable sensor badges will be much more portable, cost approximately $200 each, and utilize easily replaceable colorimetric chemical sensor strips (costing ~$5-10 each). They will also run on rechargeable batteries, giving first-on-scene responders an affordable, cutting-edge tool that can be used repeatedly in the field.

The badges use specialized sensors that sample the air to detect the presence of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, phosphine, hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide at trace levels. If any TICs are detected, the sensors will send alerts to the wearer via a colorimetric sensor cartridge strip that displays up to six different colors (depending on which TICs are present) on a LED screen on the front of the badge. The screen will automatically indicate which chemical or gas has been identified, and how much of it is present in the environment (in parts per million). The badge also has vibratory and auditory alarming features that will automatically be triggered during an exposure as well.

DHS Awarded Patent for Homeland Explosive Consequence Assessment Tool

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through its Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), was awarded a U.S. patent for the Homeland Explosive Consequence Assessment Tool (HExCAT), protecting the Department’s invention and guaranteeing that the technology can help fulfill the DHS mission for years to come. HExCAT is a unique modeling system that helps emergency managers prepare communities for large-scale, scenario-specific hazards and predict consequences and potential outcomes. The tool is derived from the mandate given by Homeland Security Presidential Directive-19 Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States, and was developed to ensure we are better equipped today to handle the threats of tomorrow.

“With the HExCAT, response planners are now equipped with a fully integrated system that predicts the likely consequences of an explosion, including human injuries, structural damages, and medical responses, helping us evaluate a range of what-if scenarios and focus our energy on the most effective means of prevention, detection, mitigation and response,” said Helen Mearns, deputy director of S&T’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC).

HExCAT provides emergency managers with capabilities to streamline decision making and emergency response planning, by, among others, identifying vulnerabilities at large venues, devising effective evacuation procedures for facilities, and planning routes for relocating large groups of people to medical facilities. Additionally, HExCAT houses a library of 28 different types of military and homemade explosives, including various fuel and oxidizer combinations that amplify explosive effects, and provides unique insight into potential worst-case outcomes. The tool can also model different scenarios in diverse indoor and outdoor public spaces to more accurately predict how these scenarios will play out and how to adapt in real-life situations.

S&T’s CSAC developed the HExCAT with support from the Directorate’s Explosives Threat Assessment Program, Battelle, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Leidos, and the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH).

DARPA Transitioning Technology to Help Protect Largest U. S. Metropolitan Region

DARPA Transitioning Technology to Help Protect Largest U. S. Metropolitan Region

In advance of formal technology transition, DARPA’s SIGMA+ program concluded a three-week capstone event with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) this past summer, demonstrating through realistic exercise scenarios the ability to detect a wide spectrum of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats. The July exercises, which spanned all 15 Port Authority commands, culminated a five-year effort to develop and deploy an automated, high-performance, networked and mobile system that provides continuous city-scale monitoring of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats.

Building on the successful DARPA-Port Authority engagement during the preceding SIGMA program — which focused on radiological and nuclear threat detection — SIGMA+ expanded to include development of advanced chemical, biological, and explosive sensors, integrated vehicle designs, real-time monitoring networks, and advanced analytics for threat detection and interdiction. The SIGMA+ networked systems approach leverages all these technologies to provide a comprehensive ability for law enforcement and first responders to quickly detect, localize, and track threats with easy-to-interpret results to support situational awareness and decision making.

“The partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey over the past seven years on SIGMA and SIGMA+ has been critical to advancing state-of-art capabilities to detect and deter a full range of CBRNE threats,” said Mark Wrobel, who managed the program for DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office. “This outstanding cooperation enabled DARPA to test cutting-edge technology in the nation’s largest metropolitan region, which significantly sped up the transition from R&D to operational use.”

The SIGMA+ sensor suite was integrated into a small fleet of Port Authority vehicles to enable mobile monitoring throughout New York City and northern New Jersey. The exercises simulated various threat scenarios that could pose a risk to high-value sites, key infrastructure, or local populations. The drills aided in familiarizing officers with system capabilities and features, development of tactics, techniques and procedures, and preparation to operationalize the capabilities later this fall. In addition to the exercises, federal and state homeland security stakeholders were able to view the integrated CBRNE detection vehicles and engage with DARPA and the Port Authority on how SIGMA+ advanced sensor systems could support their mission needs. Final efforts of the SIGMA+ program will include formal transition of the integrated sensor platforms to the Port Authority and other stakeholders to provide a long-term operational capability for threat detection beyond SIGMA+.

“Protecting the public from weapons of mass destruction is of critical importance, which is why we partner with DARPA to test and deploy cutting-edge detection tools,” said Port Authority Chief Security Officer Greg Ehrie. “These tools provide an enhanced layer of vigilance to keep the millions of people who use and work at our facilities safe.”

Coast Guard Crew Seizes $239 Million Worth of Cocaine in San Diego

Coast Guard Crew Seizes $239 Million Worth of Cocaine in San Diego

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche offloaded about 18,219 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $239 million, in November in San Diego.

The offload is a result of six separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Waesche and Active.

The biggest of the six interdictions was the most recent, occurring Nov. 20, which was an interdiction of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying more than 5,500 pounds of cocaine. The interdiction of the SPSS was the first in the Eastern Pacific since 2020.

“All four of our interdictions on this patrol are crucial to the Coast Guard’s efforts to keep illicit drugs off the streets, but our last interdiction of a semi-submersible vessel was noteworthy since it was the first semi-submersible interdicted in the Eastern Pacific in over three years,” said Capt. Robert Mohr, commanding officer of the Waesche. “I am extremely impressed with the crew’s dedication throughout this dynamic patrol. They overcame multiple challenges with collective hard work, ingenuity, and positive attitudes to keep us in pursuit of these cartels and their dangerous drugs. A successful patrol like this one is rewarding and leads to better retention and recruiting efforts because everybody feels a sense of accomplishment.”

Multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, collaborate in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, all play a role in counternarcotic operations. The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdictions and criminal prosecutions.

“The significance of keeping this much cocaine from reaching our shores and streets is, no doubt, life changing. Without these nine tons of cocaine on American streets, fewer people will have access to this toxic poison, and hundreds of millions of dollars will not make it into cartel coffers,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The crew of the Waesche and the entire U.S. Coast Guard is to be commended for protecting our nation from the devastation, violence and addiction that cocaine brings to our communities.”

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Departs Seattle to Begin Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Departs Seattle to Begin Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star and crew departed Seattle, Wednesday, and are scheduled to transit to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.

Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) is an annual joint military mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). This marks the 27th year for the Polar Star to render support.

Each year, the Polar Star crew breaks a navigable channel through ice, allowing fuel and supply ships to reach McMurdo Station, which is the largest Antarctic station and the logistics hub of the USAP.

“Operation Deep Freeze is a unique and important mission that Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star undertakes each year,” said Capt. Keith Ropella, Polar Star’s commanding officer. “This mission requires year-round effort from the crew to prepare this 47-year-old cutter for the 20,000 nautical mile round trip and extreme environmental conditions we will face. We have an incredible and dedicated team; I couldn’t be more excited or more proud to make this journey with them.”

The U.S. Coast Guard is recapitalizing its polar icebreaker fleet to ensure continued access to the polar regions and to protect the country’s economic, environmental, and national security interests. Each year, the crew is asked to put forth an immense amount of time and effort to prepare the cutter for their annual deployment in support of ODF. The Polar Star completed the third of five planned phases of the service life extension project (SLEP), costing $15.6 million over a 132-day maintenance period.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is pleased to continue partnering with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program to enable a durable U.S. presence in Antarctica and across the Southern Ocean,” said Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Pacific Area commander. “Our commitment to the Antarctic region is unwavering, and we have been pleased to increase our maritime cooperation with like-minded members of the Antarctic Treaty, as well as investing in new technologies and vessels to ensure our presence is enduring.”

Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica, provides Department of Defense support to the NSF and the USAP through ODF. Every year, a joint and total force team works together to complete a successful ODF season. Active, Guard, Reserve service members from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy work together to forge a strong JTF-SFA that continues the proud tradition of U.S. military support to the USAP. The U.S. Coast Guard provides direct logistical support to the NSF and maintains a regional presence that preserves Antarctica as a scientific refuge.

Smiths Detection to Provide Security Screening at Munich Airport

Smiths Detection to Provide Security Screening at Munich Airport

Smiths Detection announced recently that it will supply Munich Airport with 60 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX carry-on baggage scanners, which should see more than 30 million annual passengers speed through security screening in a third of the time.

The ECAC EDS CB C3 approved cabin baggage screening system harnesses the power of computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanning to produce 3D images alongside Smiths Detection’s industry leading digital expertise, therefore eliminating the need to remove electronic devices, liquids and gels from hand luggage. The technology also reduces the number of trays that need to be returned, which ultimately speeds up the security screening process and improves passenger and security operator experience.

With over 1,000 units sold globally, the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX is the most energy efficient scanner of its type worldwide, featuring low noise levels, zero vibration, and a 30% higher belt speed than other CT X-ray scanners, which the company says helps to promote a calmer checkpoint.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Munich Airport to supply our industry leading CT checkpoint scanner,” said Markus Rossmeisl, Smiths Detection director sales Germany. “Providing an improved security screening experience, the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX will give passengers more time to relax prior to their flight. At the same time, the systems have been able to improve security and reduce the burden on operators, creating a better, faster, safer experience for all.”

The Smiths Detection units will be delivered beginning in January 2024.

Rohde & Schwarz Receives Transportation Security Administration Award to Supply Advanced Imaging Technology to U.S. Airport Security Screening Checkpoints

Rohde & Schwarz Receives Transportation Security Administration Award to Supply Advanced Imaging Technology to U.S. Airport Security Screening Checkpoints

Security equipment maker Rohde & Schwarz announced it has won a $10,967,200.00 award from TSA to supply its QPS201 UHD AIT security scanners to U.S. airport security screening checkpoints.

“We are thrilled to receive this award and supply TSA’s airport security screening checkpoints with the R&S UHD QPS201 AIT,” said Frank Dunn, CEO of Rohde & Schwarz USA. “This award will expand the growing number of U.S. airports, air carriers, and the hundreds of airports world-wide, that utilize our innovative R&S QPS on-person screening technology to support high-volume and highly effective checkpoint security screening operations. TSA’s investment in the QPS will further expand Rohde & Schwarz’s economic impact and create jobs at our facilities in Maryland and Texas.”

“This award from TSA is a major achievement for Rohde & Schwarz,” said Andreas Haegele, vice president of Microwave Imaging. “Our QPS on-person screening technology is the first new body scanner to be qualified and procured by TSA in more than a decade and we look forward to delivering our distinctive passenger-friendly solution to TSA’s U.S. airport checkpoints and the opportunity to support the TSA mission.”

The R&S UHD QPS201 uses safe, millimeter wave radio frequency technology to rapidly and accurately screen passengers for concealed threats. The system requires only a few milliseconds to scan passengers and its open design and hands-down scan pose makes security screening easy and accessible for travelers. The R&S UHD QPS201 achieved TSA qualification in 2022, approving it for use in U.S. airport security screening checkpoints and has achieved the highest levels of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) approvals, with more than 1,000 systems deployed in the world’s busiest airports and security screening operations. In the U.S., the R&S UHD QPS201 is currently deployed at Denver International Airport (DEN), LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark International Airport (EWR), Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

D-Fend Solutions Expands and Extends Participation in FAA Program for UAS Detection and Mitigation Testing and Evaluation Aimed at Enhancing Airport Safety

D-Fend Solutions Expands and Extends Participation in FAA Program for UAS Detection and Mitigation Testing and Evaluation Aimed at Enhancing Airport Safety

Radio frequency (RF), cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone detection and takeover mitigation technology provider D-FEND Solutions announced it has expanded and extended participation in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Detection and Mitigation Research Program, aimed at achieving safe and efficient airport and National Airspace System (NAS) operations. The company’s core Counter-UAS system, EnforceAir, underwent testing at a second airport site, Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR).

EnforceAir was previously selected for participation in the FAA program at Atlantic City International Airport (KACY). The program enables the FAA to work with major federal departments and agencies to ensure technologies/systems that are developed, tested, or deployed by federal departments and agencies to detect and/or mitigate potential risks posed by errant or hostile UAS operations do not adversely impact or interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System (NAS). The evaluation further ensures that EnforceAir does not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, aircraft navigation, or air traffic services. D-Fend Solutions rapidly progressed from initial testing at one airport to further assessment in a second airport environment. Graduating and completing the second phase at another airport is a major milestone for program participants that are able to demonstrate that their product performs as advertised, generated reliable and accurate data, and warranted further evaluation in another operational setting.

“EnforceAir’s quick progression from first trials at Atlantic City to additional evaluations at Syracuse in this demanding and vital FAA program validates D-Fend’s vision of enabling a flourishing drone-powered society, specifically in aviation, by supporting the growth of safe and secure drone adoption and integration while applying innovation to defend against rogue drone threats at airports,” said Zohar Halachmi, chairman and CEO of D-Fend Solutions.