CBP Office of Field Operations
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) is the largest operational component within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security tasked with border security and trade facilitation.[1] OFO employs over 32,000 personnel who conduct inspections at 328 ports of entry, including airports, seaports, and land borders, to enforce customs, immigration, and agricultural laws while preventing the admission of threats such as terrorists, narcotics, and invasive species.[1] This work balances rigorous security measures—such as non-intrusive inspections and biometric screening—with the facilitation of legitimate travel and commerce exceeding $3 trillion in annual trade value.[2] OFO's defining functions encompass anti-terrorism efforts, immigration enforcement through Title 8 inadmissibles processing, anti-smuggling operations targeting drugs and contraband, trade compliance via duty collection and import examinations, and agricultural protection against pests that could devastate U.S. ecosystems and food supplies.[1] Operating from 20 major field offices and 70 international locations across more than 40 countries, OFO supports outbound screening and global partnerships to disrupt threats before they reach U.S. borders.[1] With an annual budget of approximately $7.5 billion, the office equips specialized roles including CBP Officers for primary inspections, Agriculture Specialists for biosecurity, and Import Specialists for regulatory oversight.[1] Notable achievements include substantial drug seizures, with OFO contributing to millions of pounds of narcotics interdicted annually alongside U.S. Border Patrol, underscoring its frontline role in combating transnational crime.[3] Challenges persist amid high encounter volumes—over 2.4 million Title 8 inadmissibles processed in recent fiscal years—exacerbated by assaults on officers exceeding 1,000 incidents yearly, highlighting operational risks in resource-constrained environments.[4][2] Under acting Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane Sabatino, OFO continues to adapt through technology integration and workforce expansion to maintain border integrity without unduly impeding economic flows.[5]History
Origins and Establishment
The foundational functions of the CBP Office of Field Operations originated with the U.S. Customs Service, established on July 31, 1789, through the Tariff Act passed by the First Congress, which authorized the collection of import duties and enforcement of trade regulations at designated ports of entry.[6] These early customs inspectors conducted examinations of vessels, cargo, and passengers to prevent smuggling and ensure revenue collection, forming the core of field operations at seaports that later expanded to land borders.[7] Immigration inspection responsibilities at ports of entry were formalized on March 3, 1891, with the enactment of the Immigration Act, which created the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration under the Treasury Department to oversee the examination of arriving immigrants for admissibility.[8] This added personnel and protocols for verifying traveler documents and health status, complementing customs duties and establishing dual inspection regimes at points of entry that persisted through the 20th century under the Immigration and Naturalization Service after its 1933 reorganization.[7] Agricultural inspection functions, integral to preventing the introduction of pests and diseases, derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's efforts beginning with the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, which empowered plant health specialists to inspect shipments at ports.[9] These roles, later managed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, focused on cargo and passenger screenings to safeguard U.S. agriculture, providing a third pillar of field operations expertise. The Office of Field Operations was officially established on March 1, 2003, as a component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the Department of Homeland Security, integrating approximately 16,000 customs inspectors, immigration inspectors, and agricultural specialists from the preceding agencies to unify port-of-entry operations nationwide.[10][9] This consolidation centralized authority for traveler, cargo, and conveyance inspections across 328 ports, enhancing coordination while preserving the specialized enforcement traditions of its legacy components.[7]Post-9/11 Reorganization and Formation of CBP
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, highlighted significant fragmentation in U.S. border management, with immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections conducted by separate agencies under different departments, leading to inefficiencies and security gaps.[10] In response, President George W. Bush proposed the establishment of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on June 6, 2002, to consolidate federal functions related to homeland protection, including border security.[10] [11] The Homeland Security Act of 2002, enacted on November 25, 2002, created DHS by reorganizing 22 federal entities and became effective on March 1, 2003.[11] This legislation transferred border-related responsibilities from the Departments of Treasury, Justice, and Agriculture to DHS, aiming to unify enforcement and inspection activities previously siloed across agencies.[7] U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was established within DHS on March 1, 2003, as the primary agency for securing U.S. borders while facilitating lawful trade and travel.[7] CBP integrated the customs revenue and enforcement functions of the U.S. Customs Service (previously under Treasury), the immigration inspection and Border Patrol elements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS, under Justice), and the agricultural quarantine inspection programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), specifically its Plant Protection and Quarantine division.[7] [7] This merger consolidated approximately 58,000 personnel into a single entity focused on preventing terrorist threats, contraband, and illegal entries at ports of entry and along borders.[10] The CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) emerged directly from this reorganization as the operational arm responsible for inspections at the nation's 328 ports of entry across air, land, and sea.[7] OFO absorbed frontline personnel from the predecessor agencies—customs inspectors, immigration inspectors, and agricultural specialists—implementing a unified "One Face at the Border" approach where a single CBP officer conducts primary screenings for customs, immigration, and agriculture risks, replacing prior multi-agency lines that delayed processing and complicated threat detection.[12] This structure enhanced coordination, with OFO officers trained to enforce over 60 legal authorities spanning trade facilitation, admissibility determinations, and biosecurity measures.[7] By centralizing these functions under DHS, the reorganization addressed pre-9/11 criticisms of inter-agency rivalries and overlapping jurisdictions that had hindered effective border oversight.[11]Key Developments in the 21st Century
Following the formation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on March 1, 2003, the Office of Field Operations (OFO) integrated inspection personnel from legacy agencies, enabling unified operations at ports of entry with enhanced focus on terrorism prevention and trade facilitation.[13] In 2004, OFO began deploying the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, initially as a secure data portal for importers, which evolved into a comprehensive platform for processing cargo manifests, entries, and payments to streamline legitimate trade while targeting risks.[13] By 2010, the implementation of Importer Security Filing (10+2) required advance data on cargo to identify high-risk shipments before arrival, reducing manual inspections and supporting risk-based processing at seaports and airports.[13] OFO expanded trusted traveler programs to expedite low-risk entries, launching Global Entry on June 6, 2008, for pre-approved international travelers using kiosks for biometric verification at 47 U.S. airports and select preclearance sites.[13] [14] Membership grew to over 5 million by 2016, incorporating iris scans and fingerprints to minimize wait times while maintaining security vetting.[15] Complementary programs like NEXUS, operationalized in 2002 for U.S.-Canada land and air crossings, and SENTRI for southern border vehicle lanes, integrated with OFO processes to balance facilitation and enforcement.[16] In 2007, the National Agriculture Release Program introduced expedited inspections for low-risk commodities, freeing resources for higher-threat agricultural threats like pests and diseases.[13] Technological advancements in biometrics bolstered OFO's capabilities, with pilots for facial recognition at air and sea ports of entry in the early 2010s, expanding to Simplified Arrival systems by 2013 for automated traveler verification against photos and documents.[17] By 2020, OFO deployed mobile biometric tools at land borders for rapid identity confirmation of non-citizens, enhancing detection of imposters and watchlist matches.[18] Organizationally, OFO established its Special Response Team in 2006 to address emergencies at ports, such as post-Hurricane Katrina support, and pursued workforce expansion, with CBP hiring initiatives adding thousands of officers to handle rising volumes—processing over 400 million travelers annually by the mid-2010s.[12] The 2016 Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act provided the first major reauthorization since 2003, mandating OFO to prioritize enforcement against illicit trade while modernizing infrastructure.[13]Organizational Structure
Leadership and Headquarters
The headquarters of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) is located in Washington, D.C., integrated within the broader CBP headquarters at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.[19] This central location facilitates coordination of nationwide operations, including oversight of admissions, inspections, and enforcement at ports of entry.[1] OFO is led by the Executive Assistant Commissioner, a senior position appointed by the CBP Commissioner to direct field operations across air, land, and sea ports.[1] The role encompasses management of approximately 20 field offices, 328 ports of entry, and over 70 preclearance locations abroad, ensuring unified policy implementation and resource allocation.[5] As of September 2025, Diane J. Sabatino serves as Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, providing continuity in leadership amid operational demands such as border security and trade facilitation.[5] Supporting the Executive Assistant Commissioner are various executive directors handling specialized directorates, including admissibility programs, passenger processing, and strategic planning, which report directly to OFO headquarters.[19] This structure enables rapid response to emerging threats while maintaining accountability to congressional oversight and departmental priorities.[20]Field Operations and Ports of Entry
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) conducts its primary activities at the 328 designated ports of entry across the United States, encompassing land borders, seaports, and airports, where it enforces federal laws related to immigration, customs, agriculture, and border security while facilitating legitimate travel and trade.[1][21] These ports include approximately 300 land border crossings, primarily along the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders, 46 international airports, and 14 seaports handling maritime traffic.[21] OFO officers screen all arriving passengers, inspect cargo and conveyances, and interdict threats such as narcotics, weapons, and inadmissible individuals to prevent terrorism, smuggling, and illegal entry.[1] OFO's field operations are coordinated through 20 major field offices, each responsible for overseeing multiple ports within specific geographic regions, such as the Atlanta Field Office covering southeastern ports or the El Paso Field Office managing Southwest border crossings.[1][22] These offices direct daily inspections, resource allocation, and enforcement strategies, employing over 32,000 personnel including CBP officers, agriculture specialists, and import specialists who utilize advanced technologies like biometric scanners and non-intrusive inspection equipment to process more than 1 million travelers and 100,000 cargo containers daily.[1] Operations extend internationally to 70 preclearance locations in over 40 countries, allowing inspections before departure to the U.S., thereby enhancing efficiency and security.[1] At ports of entry, field operations emphasize layered security measures, beginning with primary inspections for documentation and basic threat assessment, followed by secondary examinations for high-risk cases involving detailed searches or canine detection.[21] Programs such as the Immigration Inspection Program and Cargo Security initiatives integrate intelligence-driven targeting to optimize resources and minimize wait times, balancing security imperatives with economic facilitation.[21] This structure enables OFO to manage peak volumes, such as during holiday travel seasons, while maintaining vigilance against evolving threats like fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking.[2]Workforce Composition and Training
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comprises more than 30,000 employees responsible for border security and trade facilitation missions at over 300 ports of entry, making it CBP's largest operational component.[23] These personnel include primarily CBP Officers (CBPOs), who perform immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections; Agriculture Specialists focused on biosecurity threats; Import Specialists handling trade compliance; and support roles such as technicians and mission support staff.[24] As of the end of fiscal year 2022, OFO achieved full staffing for its allocated 25,437 CBPO positions at ports of entry, though recruitment challenges and attrition have led to reported shortages in subsequent years, prompting calls for additional hires to address workload demands.[23][25] OFO's workforce demographics reflect federal law enforcement trends, with women comprising approximately 24 percent of CBP's overall employee base as of 2024, though specific OFO breakdowns are not publicly detailed beyond equal employment opportunity oversight for the agency's 60,000-plus personnel.[26][27] Recruitment emphasizes U.S. citizenship, age limits under 40 for CBPO roles (with exceptions for veterans), and background checks, prioritizing candidates with prior military or law enforcement experience to mitigate training costs and operational gaps.[28] New OFO personnel, particularly CBPOs, undergo mandatory initial training at the CBP Field Operations Academy (FOA), which designs and delivers programs emphasizing anti-terrorism, inspection protocols, and tactical skills to support OFO's frontline missions.[29][28] FOA curricula include physical fitness requirements met via a pre-academy 150-day progressive program covering endurance, strength, and agility tests, followed by academy instruction in intermediate weapons like batons and oleoresin capsicum spray, simulator-based (Virtra) scenario training, and specialized topics such as tactical medical response.[30][31] Training integrates with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) for basic programs in trade enforcement and language skills, ensuring officers can detect threats in cargo, travelers, and conveyances.[32] Ongoing professional development addresses evolving threats, with temporary duty assignments and advanced courses available to maintain proficiency across OFO's diverse roles.[24]Missions and Responsibilities
Border Security and Threat Prevention
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) secures U.S. borders at 328 ports of entry by inspecting over 1 million travelers, vehicles, and cargo shipments daily to detect and prevent the entry of terrorists, weapons, narcotics, and other threats. OFO employs a risk-based screening approach integrating intelligence, biometric verification, and non-intrusive inspection technologies to identify high-risk individuals and goods before they enter the country.[21][28] In countering terrorism, OFO officers verify travel documents and cross-reference against watchlists during primary inspections, denying entry or referring for secondary screening those matching terrorist indicators. In fiscal year 2023, CBP recorded encounters with individuals on the terrorist watchlist at ports of entry, contributing to the prevention of potential threats through expedited removals or further investigations by law enforcement partners. OFO's integration with the National Targeting Center enables pre-arrival risk assessments, enhancing detection of illicit actors attempting legal entry points.[33][34] OFO interdicts narcotics smuggling primarily at southwest border ports, where officers seized significant quantities of fentanyl and other opioids concealed in vehicles and pedestrian crossings. Fiscal year 2024 data show OFO participating in nationwide drug seizures exceeding prior years, with August 2025 marking a surge in interdictions demonstrating operational effectiveness against cartel smuggling tactics. These efforts include K-9 unit deployments and x-ray scanners, resulting in thousands of pounds of contraband prevented from domestic distribution.[35][36] Human smuggling and trafficking prevention involves scrutinizing group travel patterns and vehicle manifests, leading to apprehensions of facilitators and victims at entry points. OFO also targets weapons smuggling, with outbound seizures to Caribbean destinations tracked monthly, underscoring bidirectional threat mitigation. In fiscal year 2024, OFO processed over 1.3 million inadmissible aliens, many flagged for criminal histories or security risks, bolstering overall border integrity.[3][37]Customs Enforcement and Trade Facilitation
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces federal customs laws at 328 ports of entry, targeting violations such as duty evasion, smuggling of prohibited or restricted goods, and intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements, while simultaneously processing legitimate commercial cargo to support economic activity.[1] OFO personnel, including CBP officers and import specialists, conduct targeted examinations of shipments using risk-based targeting systems to detect illicit trade practices, including antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) evasion under the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA).[38] In fiscal year (FY) 2024, OFO contributed to CBP's overall customs enforcement by seizing goods that violated IPR, with the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of seized items reflecting a 95% increase over FY 2023 and more than doubling in volume from FY 2020 levels; top categories included jewelry, watches, and handbags.[39] Customs enforcement activities also encompass interdictions of narcotics, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and other contraband entering via commercial channels, with OFO officers leveraging non-intrusive inspection technologies and canine units at air, land, and sea ports.[40] These efforts align with the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) of 2015, which expanded CBP's authority to investigate evasion of trade remedies and implement uniform enforcement through Centers of Excellence and Expertise, reducing inconsistencies across ports.[41] TFTEA implementation has enabled OFO to prioritize high-risk shipments while pursuing civil and criminal penalties against violators, including through enhanced data analytics for detecting undervaluation and misclassification of goods.[42] In parallel, OFO facilitates trade by processing over $5 trillion in annual combined imports and exports, as reported for FY 2023, utilizing the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system for electronic filing and clearance of entries.[43] On a typical day in FY 2024, OFO handled 3.8 million de minimis shipments—low-value imports exempt from formal entry under Section 321—expediting low-risk trade while collecting duties and taxes exceeding billions annually to fund government operations.[44] Programs such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lanes, administered at OFO ports, grant expedited processing to vetted participants, balancing security with efficiency to minimize delays for compliant importers.[45] This dual mandate ensures enforcement does not unduly hinder the $3 trillion-plus in annual U.S. imports, though resource constraints at high-volume ports can lead to trade-offs in inspection thoroughness.[46]Immigration and Agricultural Inspections
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conducts immigration inspections at the nation's 328 ports of entry to determine the admissibility of individuals seeking to enter the United States. CBP officers verify nationality, identity, and eligibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), presuming applicants are aliens until U.S. citizenship is proven and immigrants until nonimmigrant status is established.[47] These inspections target prevention of entry by ineligible persons, including terrorists, criminals, and drug traffickers, through document examination, biometric verification, and questioning under oath.[47] Officers may conduct warrantless searches of persons and effects upon suspicion of exclusion grounds.[47] In fiscal year 2024, OFO recorded significant enforcement actions, including Title 8 inadmissibles as part of nationwide encounters exceeding 2.4 million at southwest land borders alone, reflecting the scale of daily inspections processing approximately one million entrants.[3] Deferred inspection sites handle follow-up reviews for documentation issues unresolved at primary ports, ensuring thorough vetting without immediate denial.[48] Pre-inspection programs, conducted outside U.S. territory at select foreign airports, streamline processes while maintaining security.[47] Agricultural inspections, performed by CBP Agriculture Specialists (CBPAS) within OFO, safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources by preventing the introduction of invasive pests, foreign animal diseases, and prohibited items.[49] Specialists target passengers, cargo, and conveyances for undeclared or restricted agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, plants, seeds, soil, and wood packaging materials, which could harbor threats like plant pests or pathogens.[49] Methods include risk-based targeting, physical examinations, canine detection teams, and interception of intentional agro-terrorism risks, in coordination with importers to enforce compliance.[49] In April 2025, CBP conducted 108,601 positive agricultural passenger inspections, issuing 740 civil penalties for violations, demonstrating ongoing vigilance against unintentional pest introductions.[50] Quarantine materials interceptions track regulated items seized, with recent efforts yielding record detections of "first in the nation" and "first in the port" invasive pests since November 2023.[51][52] CBPAS enforce domestic and international regulations, protecting economic sectors valued at billions by averting outbreaks that could devastate crops and livestock.[53]Operations and Enforcement Activities
Inspection Processes at Ports of Entry
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) of U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducts inspections at 328 ports of entry across air, land, and sea borders to determine the admissibility of persons, vehicles, and cargo under immigration, customs, and agricultural laws.[21] These inspections employ a layered, risk-based approach to balance security with facilitation, verifying compliance with U.S. entry requirements while targeting potential threats such as inadmissible aliens, contraband, or prohibited goods.[47] Primary inspection serves as the initial screening point, where OFO officers review travel documents, conduct biometric verification when applicable, and question individuals under oath about their identity, nationality, purpose of travel, and intended duration of stay.[47][54] Entrants are presumed aliens until citizenship is established and presumed immigrants unless nonimmigrant intent is demonstrated; U.S. citizens are admitted upon proof of status.[47] Officers may visually inspect luggage or vehicles briefly and use targeting systems to flag anomalies, referring approximately 5-10% of travelers to secondary for further review based on risk indicators.[55] Secondary inspection involves more intensive procedures to resolve admissibility doubts, including detailed document analysis, extended interviews, physical searches of persons and effects without warrants if exclusion grounds exist, and examinations of electronic devices or vehicles for hidden compartments.[47][56] For vehicles at land ports, this may entail non-intrusive imaging scans, canine detection, or disassembly to uncover concealed migrants or narcotics.[57] Outcomes range from admission after verification to denial of entry, detention, or referral to immigration authorities for removal proceedings.[47] Cargo and merchandise inspections follow similar risk stratification, with manifests pre-screened via automated systems; low-risk shipments proceed unimpeded, while high-risk entries undergo physical examinations at designated facilities to confirm declarations, assess duties, and detect violations like undervaluation or hazardous materials.[58] OFO agriculture specialists integrate pest and disease checks, sampling commodities for quarantine risks.[59] In fiscal year 2023, OFO conducted over 1.2 million cargo exams, seizing goods valued at billions in evaded duties and contraband.[46] These processes ensure statutory authority to examine all entering vehicles and persons is exercised systematically.[60]Interdiction Efforts and Seizures
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) leads interdiction efforts at the nation's 328 ports of entry, where CBP officers inspect over 1 million travelers, vehicles, and cargo shipments daily to detect and seize narcotics, weapons, bulk currency, and other contraband attempting to cross the border.[21] These operations rely on non-intrusive inspection technologies such as X-ray scanners and gamma-ray imaging, canine enforcement teams, and intelligence-driven targeting to identify anomalies in passengers, private vehicles, commercial cargo, and maritime containers.[57] OFO's approach emphasizes layered enforcement, including primary inspections for all entrants and secondary examinations for high-risk individuals or goods, often guided by advance information from partner agencies like Homeland Security Investigations.[40] Narcotics interdiction constitutes a core focus, with OFO seizing significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin primarily at land ports along the U.S.-Mexico border. In fiscal year 2024, CBP's total fentanyl seizures exceeded 20,000 pounds nationwide, with OFO at ports of entry accounting for a substantial share, as most fentanyl crossings occur via U.S. citizens or legal residents in small, concealed amounts within vehicles or on persons rather than large cartel shipments between ports.[61] [62] For instance, OFO operations in FY2024 included seizures of over 15,000 pounds of fentanyl through June across CBP components, reflecting heightened targeting of synthetic opioids hidden in everyday traffic. Methamphetamine remains the most seized drug by volume at ports, with OFO intercepting thousands of pounds annually, often concealed in commercial shipments or vehicle modifications.[35] Beyond drugs, OFO interdicts firearms and ammunition trafficked toward Mexico, as well as undeclared currency linked to money laundering by transnational criminal organizations. In FY2025 through August, the El Paso Field Office alone seized 31 firearms and over $2.7 million in currency at ports of entry, preventing their use in cartel violence or funding illicit activities.[63] Similar efforts in San Diego yielded 8,915 pounds of narcotics alongside weapons and protected species contraband in a single month's operations in July 2025.[64] These seizures often result from coordinated intelligence, with OFO referring cases to federal prosecutors; for example, currency seizures in FY2024 at Border Patrol checkpoints (complementary to OFO ports) totaled millions, underscoring the broader ecosystem of cash interdiction.[3] Agricultural interdiction complements these efforts, seizing prohibited pests and diseased materials to protect U.S. agriculture, though narcotics and currency dominate enforcement metrics.[40]Technological and Intelligence Integration
The Office of Field Operations (OFO) integrates advanced biometric technologies, including facial recognition systems, to verify traveler identities at ports of entry. CBP's Traveler Verification Service (TVS), a cloud-based platform, compares live facial images against passport photos and watchlist databases, enabling automated processing for entry and exit.[65] This system has been deployed across air, sea, and land environments, with full implementation in commercial air arrivals via Simplified Arrival as of 2025, reducing debarkation times by up to 30% at select seaports.[66] At land borders, biometric facial comparison supports vehicle and pedestrian inspections, with plans for expanded vehicle biometric evaluations starting in 2026 to provide real-time identity validation using AI-assisted tools.[67][68] Non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies, such as X-ray and gamma-ray scanners, are employed by OFO to screen vehicles, cargo, and containers for contraband without physical disassembly, enhancing detection of narcotics, weapons, and undeclared goods.[69] These systems, including large-scale fixed installations at bridges and mobile units, scanned an increasing volume of outbound vehicles under congressional mandates aiming for 10% coverage by fiscal year 2026.[70] OFO's NII program supports risk-based targeting, integrating data from advance shipping manifests to prioritize high-risk inspections, though audits have noted underutilization of available systems for contraband detection.[57][71] Intelligence integration occurs through OFO's collaboration with fusion centers and internal coordination hubs, facilitating the sharing of threat assessments, watchlist data, and real-time operational intelligence across federal, state, and local partners.[72] The CBP Intelligence and Operations Coordination Center serves as a central node for fusing pre-arrival information, such as traveler manifests and derogatory records, to inform OFO officers' decisions at ports.[73] AI-driven analytics further enhance this by screening cargo manifests and validating identities against biometric galleries and repositories, aiding in the identification of potential threats prior to physical inspections.[74] CBP's broader IT strategy emphasizes interoperability with partner agencies, including data-sharing protocols updated through 2028 to bolster predictive targeting.[75]Performance and Effectiveness
Statistical Achievements and Metrics
In fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024), the CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO) recorded 1,343,823 encounters at ports of entry, encompassing Title 8 inadmissibles and Title 42 expulsions where applicable; this marked an increase from 1,137,452 encounters in FY2023 and a substantial rise from 551,930 in FY2022.[3]| Fiscal Year | OFO Encounters |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | 551,930 |
| FY2023 | 1,137,452 |
| FY2024 | 1,343,823 |