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Borders to get $88 million to scan for commercial ‘contraband’

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced $88 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment — enhancing border security by expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) capabilities to scan commercial traffic for contraband through X-ray and other imaging technologies, stated a DHS news release.

"These cutting-edge technologies will help us better detect threats at our nation's borders while expediting legitimate travel and trade," said Napolitano. "The Recovery Act has infused critical resources into local economies across the country while strengthening our nation's security."

Napolitano's announcement today includes eight contracts for NII technologies to provide fixed and mobile detection capabilities for deployment by CBP at and between U.S. ports-of-entry.

As part of the Obama Administration's Southwest Border Initiative announced in March, CBP now screens 100 percent of all rail traffic headed southbound to Mexico using NII equipment.

In awarding ARRA funds, DHS prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated 63 percent of its ARRA funds through Sept. 30 — more than $1.7 billion.

ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA). Of the nearly $1 billion allocated to CBP and GSA for port and border security projects, $100 million was dedicated to NII technologies.

To learn more about the DHS Recovery Act projects, click here .

The Trucker staff can be contacted to comment on this article at [email protected] .

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