BEST Facilitation Act
BEST Facilitation Act
Plain Language Summary
# BEST Facilitation Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The BEST Facilitation Act would create a new pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire specialized workers called "image technicians" to review security images of vehicles and cargo crossing U.S. borders. These technicians would examine X-ray and other nonintrusive inspection images to identify potential threats like contraband, drugs, weapons, or unauthorized people trying to enter the country. If they spot something suspicious, they would flag it for CBP officers to inspect further.
The program would operate from five regional command centers across the country. **Who It Affects** This bill primarily affects CBP operations and border security, creating new job positions for image technicians. It could indirectly impact travelers and businesses involved in international trade by potentially speeding up border crossing processes if more images can be screened efficiently. The bill would also require government resources to establish and staff the regional command centers. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee in the House of Representatives. It was introduced by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Arizona) in the 119th Congress, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House and remains in the early legislative stage.
CRS Official Summary
Border Enforcement, Security, and Trade Facilitation Act of 2025 or the BEST Facilitation ActThis bill establishes a pilot program for positions within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to review inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States.Specifically, the bill establishes the position of image technician 1 within the CBP Office of Field Operations. An image technician must (1) review nonintrusive inspection images of vehicles and cargo entering or exiting the United States; (2) assess whether such vehicles and cargo contain contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, or persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States; and (3) refer suspicious vehicles and cargo for further inspection by a CBP officer. These reviews must take place at one of five regional command centers established pursuant to this pilot program.The bill also establishes the position of image technician 2 with additional responsibilities, including receiving and reporting intelligence to the National Targeting Center about techniques used by malign actors to transport contraband, illicit drugs, weapons, and persons seeking to unlawfully enter the United States.Image technicians must be supervised by a supervisory CBP officer.The bill establishes annual training requirements for both positions, including training on privacy and civil liberties and how to analyze inspection images.This pilot program ends five years after the date of enactment of this bill. Individuals employed as image technicians at the end of the pilot program may transfer to comparable positions within CBP or the Department of Homeland Security.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.