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Featured Issue: Legislative Efforts to Lower CBP Hiring Standards

6/9/17 AILA Doc. No. 17060632. Admissions & Border

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Congress is currently considering two bills that would weaken the screening procedures for Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents by waiving the polygraph requirement for certain law enforcement and military applicants. AILA opposes both House bill (H.R. 2213) and Senate bill (S. 595).

Read bill text and recent congressional actions:

H.R. 2213: The Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act
S. 595: Boots on the Border Act of 2017

AILA's Position and Resources:

AILA Recommends Congress VOTE NO on H.R. 2213 - June 6, 2017
Sign-On Letter Calling on Members of Congress to Oppose H.R. 2213 - June 6, 2017
Sign-On Letter Calling on Members of Congress to Oppose H.R. 2213 and S. 595 - May 17, 2017
American Immigration Council: By Eliminating the Polygraph Test, Corruption among Border Agencies Could Run Rampant - May 17, 2017
AILA: President Trump's Massive Enforcement Plan: Wasteful and Ineffective - April 5, 2017

Speak Out Against Weakening CBP Hiring Standards:

Take Action: Urge your Representative to Vote NO on H.R. 2213 and S. 595

Below are some sample tweets and Facebook posts for you to use:

Sample Tweets:

Congress might make it easier for those w/ criminal backgrounds to work for #CBP. We must take action http://ow.ly/IoeS30cmtwn
Call your Rep and tell them to vote NO on two bills that weaken #CBP hiring standards http://ow.ly/IoeS30cmtwn #AILAStandsWithImmigrants

We ask Congress to vote NO on bill that lowers #CBP hiring standards & helps @POTUS build a mass #deportation force http://ow.ly/IoeS30cmtwn

Facebook Posts:

The House passed a bill that that weakens the screening procedures for CBP officers and agents by waiving the polygraph requirement for certain applicants, which would enable the President to implement his mass deportation plan. Tell your Senators to vote NO. http://ow.ly/IoeS30cmtwn

Call and let your Senators and Representatives know you support immigrants and refugees. #AILAStandsWithImmigrants
Posted by American Immigration Lawyers Association on Tuesday, January 31, 2017

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Related Resources

In this AILA Leadership Blog, AILA Past President Victor Nieblas highlights the efforts in Congress to waive the polygraph test requirement for some CBP applicants.
In this Op-Ed published in The Hill, James Tomsheck, former Assistant Commissioner of CBP for Internal Affairs explains why legislation to weaken CBP hiring standards would exacerbate corruption and misconduct in the agency.