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.
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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
Trucks* 725,710
Buses 69,847
Passenger vehicles 3,868,417
Trains 228
Rail containers 3,629
Private aircraft 3,244
Person arrivals
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
Totals
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