U.S. Wants to Send Customs Agents Abroad

[Khephra]

U.S. Wants to Send Customs Agents Abroad
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 1, 2004


Filed at 5:18 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is working on a plan for U.S. inspectors at foreign airports to screen passengers headed for the United States, the nation's customs chief said Monday.

Robert Bonner, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said in an interview with The Associated Press that he envisions voluntary agreements with other countries. U.S. authorities currently have agreements with major ports around the world to screen cargo before it is loaded onto ships bound for the United States.

``Essentially, we are developing a proposal to station a small number of CBP inspectors overseas, at some of the major hub airports, to work with and assist the airlines in terms of screening people who may pose a terrorist threat or who may be traveling to to the United States with fraudulent or counterfeit passports or other entry documents,'' Bonner said in the interview.

The objectives, he said, would be to stop anyone with fake travel documents and to stop terrorists from even getting on U.S.-bound planes.

more....................

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Customs-Security.html

[MikeG]

1. I think customs agents should get their own broads!

[izzie]

4. Does this mean they will stand out side Tex and sees who is coming in?

Lets face it, the Republicans can not run a country. Even in business they can only look at their own pocket book. To hell with the workers and the item they make.

[RC]

2. And why can't they do that when the brown skined

people get off the plane when it lands in the US?

[Snow]

3. What? They already do. Try flying out of Toronto while

not getting pissed at that bunch of jerks. Although, on reconsideration, it's probably not customs who are the real jerks, it's the usual suspects, the INS or whatever the blazes they're called these days.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Depends on who you meet when you enter the country

Sometimes Immigration has been rude to me, sometimes it's been Customs :D

And you're right about US customs agents in Canada-- I was shocked when I saw them at Vancouver I.A.P.

[leesa]

6. Ah yes, we have such pros!! Is that why our customs inspectors

approved all the visas of the alleged terrorists of 9-11. I would say other countries customs officers appear to be much better at the job. The arrogance of the US is astounding.