Politiparty
Politiparty

119th Congress Immigration

H.R. 1294: BEST Facilitation Act

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Feb 13, 2025
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Feb 13, 2025

This bill establishes a pilot program for positions within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to review inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States.

Specifically, the bill establishes the position of image technician 1 within the CBP Office of Field Operations. An image technician must (1) review nonintrusive inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States; (2) assess whether such vehicles and cargo contain contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, or persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States; and (3) refer suspicious vehicles and cargo for further inspection by a CBP officer. These reviews must take place at one of five regional command centers established pursuant to this pilot program.

The bill also establishes the position of image technician 2 with additional responsibilities, including receiving and reporting intelligence to the National Targeting Center about techniques used by malign actors to transport contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, and persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States.

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Image technicians must be supervised by a supervisory CBP officer.

The bill establishes annual training requirements for both positions, including training on privacy and civil liberties and how to analyze inspection images.

This pilot program ends five years after the date of enactment of this bill. Individuals employed as image technicians at the end of the pilot program may transfer to comparable positions within CBP or the Department of Homeland Security.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

4

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

6 points earned
  1. 1Juan Ciscomani R-AZ SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Juan Ciscomani

History

  1. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in the House by Juan Ciscomani.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
  1. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in House
  2. Feb 13, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
  3. Feb 13, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.