Under Phase II, DHS and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will expand the exchange of biographic entry data collected on third-country nationals (those who are neither citizens of Canada nor of the United States), permanent residents of Canada who are not U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents of the United States who are not Canadian citizens, to all automated land ports of entry at the common border, including all major land border crossings.
The U.S. and Canada will identify persons who potentially overstay their lawful period of admission; monitor the departure of persons subject to removal orders; and verify that residency requirements are being met by applicants for continued eligibility in immigration programs.
The process of collecting and sharing information will be done in accordance with each country’s privacy laws and policies and consistent with the Action Plan, Joint Statement of Privacy Principles, and an Annex to the Statement of Mutual Understanding on Information Sharing agreed to by DHS and the Joint Statement of Privacy Principles.
The U.S. and Canada have issued privacy documents for Phase II, including Privacy Impact Assessments and updated System of Record Notices.
The border between the U.S. and Mexico continues to be extremely porous, but agents do catch some people coming into the country at ports of entry.
Just last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at El Paso area ports of entry apprehended seven wanted people including a California man being sought on rape and assault charges.
“CBP officers regularly encounter and identify wanted people during the course of their homeland security mission,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. “Every violent and dangerous person we take into custody helps make our community and our nation a safer place to live.”