For Immediate Release
February 7, 2003

Border and Transportation Security Directorate

Transportation Security (Transportation)

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners will increase the number of random examinations conducted at airport security checkpoints.
• Federal Air Marshals will be assigned to a greater number of flights.
• Parking will be restricted at or near airport curbside areas.
• TSA will increase perimeter security in and around airports.

Customs (Treasury), Immigration (Justice) and APHIS (Agriculture)

• Passengers
  • Customs and Immigration inspectors will be questioning more people more closely as they cross the land border, or enter the United States through international airports. As part of this process, they will also more closely scrutinized travel documents.
  • Customs inspectors will increase the number of vehicles referred to secondary inspection areas for closer scrutiny with non-intrusive inspection equipment.
  • Travelers and border crossers may experience minor delays, but because much of the additional scrutiny will take place in secondary inspection areas, we do not anticipate any significant delays.
  • Agriculture inspectors will continue to carefully examine importations (both personal and commercial) for any evidence of pests or disease.

• Cargo
  • Customs inspectors will increase the number of cargo containers and trucks that they identify for additional screening with non-intrusive inspection equipment.
  • Shippers may experience some minor delays, but we do not anticipate any significant delays in cargo processing.

Federal Protective Service (GSA)

• FPS will increase security at Federal Buildings by performing additional checks of hand carried items and by increasing random searches of vehicles.
• FPS will closely coordinate with local police to reduce any potential vulnerabilities to federal facilities.
• FPS will strictly enforce parking rules, and severely restrict vehicular parking within 300 feet of federal buildings.