Tactics and Technology
The following represents the tactical and technological approaches, under the direction of the CBP Commissioner and Chief of the Border Patrol, that the Border Patrol will pursue in addressing this Strategy’s objectives: a more flexible, welltrained, nationally-directed Border Patrol; specialized teams and rapid-response capabilities; intelligence-driven operations; and infrastructure, facility, and
technology support.
Approach 1
A more flexible, well-trained, nationally directed
Border Patrol
The Border Patrol will use a highly centralized organizational model with a direct chain of command from the CBP Commissioner, to the Chief of the Border Patrol, to the Sector Chief Patrol Agents. This national command structure will facilitate national determinations on threat and resource priorities and will allow for the rapid deployment of Border Patrol assets, both on a short-term, temporary basis, as well as on long-term or permanent operations. This nationally directed mobility, with supporting national policies, will allow the Border Patrol to rapidly respond to emerging threats and hot spots along the border in a proactive prevention and response capacity. This type of flexibility is critical to address the present terrorist threat.
Anti-terrorism training is critical to ensuring that Border Patrol agents are fully prepared to address the terrorism threat. In conjunction with the Office of Training and Development, the Border Patrol will continually assess its anti-terrorism training requirements to ensure that agents, supervisors, and managers have the necessary multi-disciplinary training to effectively carry out the Border Patrol’s priority anti-terrorism mission. The Office of Training and Development will work with the Border Patrol to ensure this training is developed and delivered in the most effective and operationally efficient manner, using methods such as computer-based modules, mobile training teams, train-the-trainer instruction, classroom and Academy training.
The Border Patrol will continue to deploy assets to interior U.S. locations where there is a direct nexus to
border control operations, such as at transportation hubs, airports, and bus stations to confront routes of
egress for terrorists, smugglers, and illegal aliens, and to support ICE-led interior efforts when appropriately coordinated and approved at the national level.
Approach 2
Specialized teams and rapid-response capabilities
CBP will expand the training and response capabilities of the Border Patrol’s specialized BORTAC, BORSTAR,
and Special Response teams to support domestic and international intelligence-driven and anti-terrorism
efforts as well as other special operations. These teams will assist in terrorism prevention through
planning, training, and tactical deployment. As a highly mobile, rapid-response tool, they will significantly increase CBP’s ability to respond operationally to specific terrorist threats and incidents, as well as to support the traditional Border Patrol mission.
Approach 3
Intelligence-driven operations
The Border Patrol will expand the use of national security and terrorist-related intelligence and targeting information to improve intelligence-driven operations. This will enable the Border Patrol to deploy its resources effectively to target areas of greatest risk. These operations will be coordinated with the Office of Field Operations to ensure maximum effectiveness at and between the ports of entry. In order to support tactical and strategic operations, the Border Patrol will enhance its own organic intelligence program by coordinating with CBP’s Office of Intelligence. In addition, the Border Patrol will leverage the intelligence capabilities of the Offices of Intelligence, Field Operations, and Anti-Terrorism to increase threat assessment, targeting efforts, operational planning, and communication to support its anti-terrorism and traditional missions.
Approach 4
Infrastructure, facility, and technology support
Integrating increased numbers of agents and new technology into the Border Patrol’s enforcement activities has strained resources previously dedicated to infrastructure, facility, and technology support. To ensure the objectives of this Strategy are not negatively impacted by a degradation of its infrastructure, the Border Patrol will continue to assess and address critical needs for this support, which include new construction; the preservation of buildings, technology, vehicles, and fences; and the deployment and maintenance of new technologies, ranging from remote cameras to computer and intelligence systems. This support is critical
to ensuring that the investment made in new agents and new technology maintains its effectiveness in
the face of shifting patterns of border threat and changing criminal tactics. Source
Texas Civil Rights Review 