S.Amdt. 3468

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Lankford, aims to add a new subtitle to bill S. 2296 called the Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade Facilitation Act of 2025 (or the BEST Facilitation Act).

The purpose of this amendment is to create a pilot program within the Office of Field Operations to establish specialized Image Technician positions.

Key Changes and Additions

• New Job Positions: It creates two levels of roles: Image Technician 1 and Image Technician 2. These are not law enforcement positions and cannot be filled by independent contractors.
• Core Duties: These technicians will review non-intrusive inspection images of containers and conveyances at ports of entry to identify anomalies, such as contraband, illicit drugs, terrorist weapons, or people attempting to enter or exit the U.S. unlawfully.
• Role of Technicians: They recommend whether to release a shipment or refer it for further inspection, but they do not have final authority. Final decision-making power remains with Supervisory U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers.
• Operational Setup: The amendment requires the establishment of 5 regional command centers for these technicians to work from.
• Training and Testing: Technicians must undergo annual training on civil rights, privacy, and image analysis, as well as annual testing on their accuracy and timeliness.
• Timeline: The pilot program is set to expire 5 years after the Act is enacted. After it ends, employees in these roles may transfer to comparable positions within the Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Accountability: The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection must provide semiannual reports and biannual briefings to Congress. These reports will track staffing levels, image scan averages, the impact on wait times, and whether the technicians are effectively increasing the seizure of contraband.