Guarding the borders
- By Judi Hasson
- Nov 09, 2003
The following technology is used at the U.S./Mexican border to inspect vehicles and process visitors.
* Radiation isotope identification device: Handheld tool used to scan vehicles for materials that emit radiation.
* Radiation-detection pagers: Worn by border agents to pick up radiation emissions.
* Cargo truck X-rays: Giant machines that take X-ray pictures of vehicles.
* Fiber-optic scopes: Allow border agents to peer into gas tanks.
* Vehicle and cargo inspection systems: Bombard vehicles with gamma rays that take a "picture" of what is inside a vehicle.
* Interagency Border Inspection System: A master database of law enforcement files on criminals and suspects shared by law enforcement agencies.
* Fingerprint biometrics: Fingerprint images embedded in visa cards and passports for comparison with an individual's prints.
* U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology: New system under development that will use biometric tools and database information to track when foreign visitors enter and leave the United States.
Otay Mesa Port of Entry
Here is a breakdown of the types of traffic crossing the border checkpoint at Otay Mesa, Calif., near San Diego.
Conveyance arrivals Fiscal 2002
Passenger vehicles 3,868,417
Rail containers 3,629
Private aircraft 3,244
Via truck* 725,710
Via bus 584,896
Via passenger vehicle 8,210,513
On foot (pedestrians) 1,830,903
Via trains 456
Via private aircraft 11,819
All conveyances 4,671,075
All people 11,364,297
* Trucks were also crossing at the San Ysidro port in 1999.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection