Spotlights from the previous administrations are available in the Archive section of our website.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Information And Technology’s Trusted Partnership Initiative | SpotlightsU.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Information Technology’s Trusted Partnership Initiative program promotes teamwork across organizational lines, facilitating IT to operate at the speed of mission. Through regular engagement, Trusted Partner Initiative meetings increase partner-driven conversations and lead to more efficient and data-driven decision-making. This collaboration is crucial to meet the needs of a vast and wide-ranging mission and facilitate discussions on possible future requirements and provide delivery of scalable solutions. In 2019, then-Enterprise Services...
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Information Technology’s Border 5/Migration 5 (B5M5) CIO Tech Forum | SpotlightsThe Border 5/Migration 5 is a partnership between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. designed to enhance international cooperation and coordination on border security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Information and Technology Assistant Commissioner and Chief Information Officer Sonny Bhagowalia serves as the U.S. delegation head for the CBP B5M5 CIO Tech Forum, which is a subsection of the overall B5M5 engagement focused on technology related to border security and immigration. OIT produced the Technology Strategy FY 2020-FY 2024 document to guide the B5M5…
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As flights streamed out of Kabul International Airport and images of evacuating Americans and Afghan partners flooded screens across the world, the men of women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection were leaping into action to address the developing crisis. CBP employees across all organizations worked together to adapt to the unfolding situation, and the CBP One mobile application team stands as a shining example of the agency’s ability to leverage systems and knowledge to overcome obstacles. CBP One is a mobile application that acts as an intuitive single portal for travelers and...
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An unprecedented year. An unprecedented number of losses. An unprecedented amount of grief. This year’s Valor Memorial and Wreath Laying Ceremony at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 12, was an occasion to remember the fallen and share compassion with their loved ones. Thirty-seven CBP employees died in the line of duty during 2021 – the most in one year in the history of the agency and its legacy agencies – and the ceremony looked to recognize not only their ultimate sacrifices, but the sacrifices of the families, friends and colleagues the 37 left...
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The candles of thousands of attendees lit up the National Mall in Washington for the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, one of the most moving ceremonies for fallen law enforcement officers during National Police Week. The vigil paid tribute to the 619 officers killed in the line of duty across the nation whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The names of 32 law enforcement officers were from U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the agency lost an additional five non-law enforcement members in 2021. “They are individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice…
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Blue Mass Opens Police Week 2022 | SpotlightsMore than a hundred law enforcement officers and public safety officials, including dozens from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, gathered on Tuesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., for the Archdiocese’s 28th annual Blue Mass. The ceremony, which began outside the cathedral with a solemn, but stirring processional march led by federal, state and local honor guard pipe and drum units, was held to remember the fallen and give thanks to first responders who continue to serve. This year’s Blue Mass returned to its traditional time frame in early May, preceding Police Week...
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Optimism, Enthusiasm in OPR Mission Support | Spotlights“It's OK to say you don't know because you're not supposed to know everything. But you must be helpful, “said U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mission Support Specialist Anna Cruz. Cruz is responsible for providing support, guidance, and expertise for the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Investigative Operations Division, in Los Angeles Mission Support Specialists perform their work in a multitude of different settings supporting CBP’s officers and agents across the country and overseas. Cruz supports CBP’s special agents who are critical to ensuring CBP safeguards and...
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CBP Commissioner Magnus has First Public Meeting with New 16th Term Trade Advisory Committee in D.C. | SpotlightsA spirit of cooperation was the prevailing mood when members of the new 16th term Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee, known as COAC, gathered last week in Washington, D.C., for their first public meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus. The meeting, held on March 31, was also the first time that the trade advisory group had gathered in person since the start of the pandemic. For the past two years, the committee’s public meetings were held virtually. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to have this kind of gathering, a meeting ‘in real…
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The seeds that blossomed into U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Special Agent David Chin’s decade-long career in law enforcement were planted long before he ever joined the agency. “I really have always wanted to go into law enforcement,” said Chin, who has been with the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Investigative Operations Directorate (IOD) for just over a year. But while Chin’s passion for law enforcement has deep roots, it is CBP’s emphasis on nurturing interests outside of work that he likes best. “I’m happy to be with CBP,” Chin said. “It’s very family friendly…
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Super Performance | SpotlightsIt was an exciting matchup watched ‘round the world, as the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals and battled to an exciting 23-20 finish, in favor of the Rams. While the Super Bowl kept the thousands of fans in the stadium … and nearly 100 million viewers globally … on the edge of their seats with game-changing dramas seemingly on every set of downs, the security around the game was far less dramatic. And that was just fine with the person in charge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s efforts at the game. “Thank you to all of our partners for all of the cooperation and communication...
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