C.B.P. News Release

U.S., United Kingdom Border Agencies Agree to Exchange Critical Passenger Information to Protect Borders

(Tuesday, September 23, 2008)

Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed a joint agreement today in Washington, D.C., with the United Kingdom Border Agency to strengthen our countries’ borders by sharing information on people who may present a threat – including illegal immigrants, smugglers and foreign criminals – before they even arrive.

"Strong partnerships mean open lines of communication," said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. "This agreement equips our frontline personnel with the information they need to protect our citizens and facilitate legitimate trade and travel."

As a result of the agreement, CBP’s National Targeting Center and UKBA’s Joint Borders Operations Centre will strengthen the capability of the U.S. and the U.K. to verify travel documents, detect false identities, determine admissibility, carry out customs purposes and identify persons traveling between our countries who may pose a security risk. The exchange of information between NTC and the JBOC will serve both enforcement and facilitation interests of both nations.

“The U.K. is currently undergoing the biggest shake up in its border security for 45 years. This agreement will mean that we are better informed about threats to our borders, and able to target our resources to deal with those threats,â€