Border Patrol: Actions Needed to Improve Checkpoint Oversight and Data
Fast Facts
U.S. Border Patrol's immigration checkpoints operate 25 to 100 miles inland from the borders. At checkpoints, agents screen vehicles to identify people in the U.S. unlawfully and they may enforce U.S. criminal laws, such as by seizing illegal drugs.
Agents are required to collect data on checkpoint activity, including how many smuggled people are apprehended and how many drug seizures were made using canines. However, we found that agents at checkpoints inconsistently documented this data, which makes oversight of these checkpoints difficult.
We recommended that Border Patrol take several actions to strengthen checkpoint oversight and data.
Border Patrol Checkpoint Canine Team Inspects a Vehicle
Highlights
What GAO Found
U.S. Border Patrol operates immigration checkpoints at more than 110 locations on U.S. highways and secondary roads, generally 25 to 100 miles inland from the southwest and northern borders. According to Border Patrol data, from fiscal years 2016 through 2020, Border Patrol apprehended about 35,700 potentially removable people in about 17,500 events at checkpoints. During the same period, Border Patrol seized drugs in about 17,970 events at checkpoints. GAO found that most drug seizure events involved only U.S. citizens (91 percent), of which 75 percent involved the seizure of marijuana and no other drugs.
Border Patrol Checkpoint Events by Type, Fiscal Years 2016 through 2020
GAO found that while Border Patrol data on apprehensions and drug seizures were generally reliable, certain other checkpoint activity data, including on apprehensions of smuggled people and canine assists with drug seizures, were unreliable. For example, although sector officials said canines were integral to checkpoint drug seizures, there was wide variation across sectors in how often agents documented canine assists with such events. Additionally, Border Patrol developed a tool to collect information about outcomes of secondary inspections at checkpoints. However, because the agency did not require agents to use the tool, only about half of checkpoints did so. Without reliable checkpoint data, Border Patrol does not have the information it needs to assess checkpoint effectiveness, ensure proper resource allocation, or explain checkpoint operations.
Border Patrol established the Checkpoint Program Management Office (CPMO) in 2013 to oversee checkpoint operations. However, Border Patrol has not demonstrated a sustained commitment to ensuring that CPMO carries out its checkpoint oversight activities or held CPMO accountable for implementing these activities. For example, CPMO was not reviewing checkpoint resources and technology—an activity assigned to it by Border Patrol. Further, Border Patrol has not established clear roles and responsibilities for CPMO, consistently and adequately staffed it, or ensured that newly assigned staff have the information they need to carry out CPMO activities. For example, documentation for new staff did not include details on tasks or the past activities of the office. By addressing these program management weaknesses, Border Patrol could ensure that CPMO is better positioned to fulfill its checkpoint oversight mission.
Why GAO Did This Study
Border Patrol has primary responsibility for securing the border between U.S. ports of entry. As part of its border enforcement strategy, Border Patrol operates immigration checkpoints where Border Patrol agents screen vehicles to identify people of foreign nationality who are potentially removable and they may enforce U.S. criminal law, such as seizing illegal drugs and interdicting human smugglers. GAO was asked to review Border Patrol's use of immigration checkpoints.
This report examines: (1) available data about Border Patrol checkpoint activity, (2) the extent Border Patrol collects reliable data about checkpoint activity, and (3) how Border Patrol oversees checkpoint operations, among other objectives. GAO analyzed Border Patrol documents and data on checkpoint activity for fiscal years 2016 through 2020 (the most recent available); interviewed officials from Border Patrol headquarters, sectors, and 13 selected checkpoints; and reviewed prior GAO work on Border Patrol checkpoints.
Recommendations
GAO is making seven recommendations, including that Border Patrol take several actions to strengthen checkpoint oversight and data. DHS concurred with each of the recommendations.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should ensure that sectors and the Checkpoint Program Management Office (CPMO) are overseeing that checkpoint activity data are consistently and accurately recorded. This should include (but not be limited to) overseeing data on apprehensions of smuggled people, canine assists with drug seizures, seizures of trace amounts of marijuana, non-drug property seizures, and attempted checkpoint circumventions. (Recommendation 1) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. Officials said that checkpoint data integrity issues are complicated by the limited connectivity and infrastructure at checkpoints and that prior investments in technology systems, in some cases, were not feasible for the field to use. CBP is working to develop a standardized data platform for its component agencies, including Border Patrol, to streamline case processing and custody management. As of July 2026, development of that system was underway with an estimated completion date in late 2027. According to Border Patrol officials, the new system will provide a more structured and efficient platform for documenting checkpoint data, enhancing operational accuracy and enabling better oversight. In the interim, CPMO and Border Patrol use a checkpoint dashboard integrated into legacy data systems that provides real-time and historical data on apprehensions, circumventions, seizures, and secondary inspections, among other things. We will continue to monitor the steps Border Patrol is taking to ensure that checkpoint data are consistently and accurately recorded.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should ensure that Border Patrol uses its data system to document information about all people for whom a checkpoint encounter leads to a subsequent enforcement action. (Recommendation 2) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. CBP is working to develop a standardized data platform for its component agencies, including Border Patrol, to streamline case processing and custody management. As of July 2026, development of that system was underway with an estimated completion date in late 2027. According to Border Patrol officials, the new system will provide a more structured and efficient platform for documenting checkpoint data, enhancing operational accuracy and enabling better oversight. In the interim, CPMO and Border Patrol use a checkpoint dashboard integrated into legacy data systems that provides real-time and historical data on apprehensions, circumventions, seizures, and secondary inspections, among other things. We will continue to monitor the steps Border Patrol is taking to improve checkpoint data collection, including documenting information about all people for whom a checkpoint encounter leads to an enforcement action.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should require checkpoints with license plate readers to document secondary inspections by using the Border Enforcement Secondary Tool as intended. (Recommendation 3) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. Border Patrol officials said that checkpoint data integrity issues are complicated by the limited connectivity and infrastructure at checkpoints and that prior investments in technology systems, including the Border Enforcement Secondary Tool, were not feasible for the field to use across all checkpoints. Border Patrol's vision is to ultimately implement one single system that integrates the license plate reader, secondary inspection dispositions, and any enforcement actions or seizures. According to Border Patrol officials, in August 2025, CPMO began taking steps to modernize Border Patrol's checkpoint data system and address gaps in secondary inspection documentation. As of July 2026, officials said the modernized system was complete and would be ready for testing by September 2026. The new system integrates license plate readers and document readers with secondary enforcement systems to ensure that all referrals to secondary inspection will be automatically documented and tracked. Officials said full implementation of the new system is planned for fiscal year 2027. We will continue to monitor the steps Border Patrol is taking to improve checkpoint data collection, including documenting secondary inspections.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should provide sustained oversight of CPMO and hold it accountable for implementing its checkpoint oversight activities. (Recommendation 4) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. In October 2023, Border Patrol developed and distributed a memorandum updating CPMO's roles and responsibilities. In November 2023, Border Patrol established a cross-functional checkpoint integrated planning team led by CPMO. In October 2024, Border Patrol moved CPMO to the Systems Planning and Analysis Directorate, which is better aligned with their activities. Specifically, according to Border Patrol officials, this move will allow CPMO to leverage additional resources needed to support checkpoint safety, efficiency, and oversight activities. Border Patrol officials said that, in addition to moving CPMO to a new directorate, the agency assigned more staff to CPMO. As of April 2026, CPMO includes eight staff members and program managers responsible for supporting checkpoint operations, license plate readers, non-intrusive inspection technology, and acquisitions. CPMO provided input into the 2026 updated Checkpoint Design Standards by developing hundreds of checkpoint operational requirements and design and modernization recommendations. Finally, Border Patrol headquarters approved checkpoint priorities, including by concurring with modernized checkpoint designs and priority lists. The 2025 reconciliation act included funding to modernize checkpoints and, according to CPMO officials, will fund various checkpoint facilities at seven of the busiest checkpoints. Collectively, Border Patrol's actions to support CPMO's activities since 2022 and the approval of checkpoint priorities, including planned checkpoint modernization, demonstrate a sustained commitment to oversight of CPMO and its checkpoint oversight activities.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should ensure that CPMO is consistently and adequately staffed. (Recommendation 5) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. In July 2024, Border Patrol provided documentation showing that CPMO has been consistently staffed with two Border Patrol agents for more than two years. Border Patrol officials told us that these CPMO program manager positions are full-time with no duties outside of CPMO roles and responsibilities. Further, in October 2023, Border Patrol developed and distributed a memorandum updating CPMO's roles and responsibilities and in November 2023, Border Patrol established a cross-functional checkpoint integrated planning team led by CPMO. As of October 2024, Border Patrol officials told us that CMPO had convened the cross-functional team for a workshop on checkpoint planning and design and planned a future workshop on checkpoint data and technology requirements. Consistently and adequately staffing CPMO positions the office to better fulfill its checkpoint oversight responsibilities over time.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should update CPMO's roles and responsibilities and communicate them across Border Patrol, including to sectors. (Recommendation 6) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. In October 2023, Border Patrol issued a memorandum updating CPMO's roles and responsibilities and distributed it to Border Patrol sectors and headquarters offices. The memorandum, U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint Management Office Reintroduction, designated CPMO as the headquarters focal point for all checkpoint-related activities and noted that its mission is to coordinate across Border Patrol sectors, headquarters, and external stakeholders to improve checkpoint governance, performance, and safety. The memorandum described CPMO responsibilities and authorities related to administering the program office as well as overseeing checkpoint data and performance management, policy management, requirement and resource management, and stakeholder engagement. Updating and communicating CPMO's roles and responsibilities positions CPMO to better fulfill its checkpoint oversight responsibilities.
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| U.S. Border Patrol | The Chief of Border Patrol should develop policies and procedures for CPMO's checkpoint oversight activities. (Recommendation 7) |
Border Patrol agreed with this recommendation. In October 2023, Border Patrol developed and distributed a memorandum updating CPMO's roles and responsibilities and distributed it to Border Patrol sectors and headquarters offices. In November 2023, Border Patrol established a checkpoint integrated planning team led by CPMO. Border Patrol developed guidance describing the team's purpose, authority and scope, structure, membership, responsibilities, and procedures. In October 2024, Border Patrol moved CPMO to the Systems Planning and Analysis Directorate, which is better aligned with their activities, and assigned additional agents to the office. Border Patrol officials told us that they hired a contractor in June 2026 to rewrite the internal operating procedures for checkpoints with a goal of finishing the rewrite by the end of December 2026. The scope of work for the contractor includes developing a strategy and doctrine for checkpoint operations as well as a performance management strategy for checkpoints. We will continue to monitor steps Border Patrol is taking to develop policies and procedures for CPMO's checkpoint oversight activities.
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