The appointee testified to the Senate that AI enhances inspections but trained officers remain essential.
President Trump’s nominee to head U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, testified before the Senate Finance Committee last week. He highlighted the importance of pairing artificial intelligence with human expertise to strengthen border security. The Border Patrol veteran and former chief said investments in non-intrusive inspection (NII) technologies and AI are crucial but cannot fully replace human agents.
“It takes an actual officer or an agent to determine if there’s actually something illegal there or not,” Mr. Scott, who has served as a policy adviser to the agency since the change of administration, said of border inspections. “So making sure that we use human beings — [using] those officers and agents in the most effective manner possible is critical, and I think investments in the technology aspect of it is going to make them more effective. It’s going to make America safer.”
He stated, “I’ve been on this team for over three decades, and I’ve learned a lot. Our borders must be secured not just to protect a line on a map, but to defend the American people, our values, and our way of life.”
CBP continues to expand its use of AI at ports of entry, deploying tools such as vehicle X-rays, radiation monitors, and natural language processing to identify threats and automate investigations.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For members of the Senate committee as they consider the confirmation of the nominee to head CBP.
- For Customs and Border Protection agents and officials as they work to ensure national security/
- For wisdom for President Trump and members of his administration as they implement immigration reforms.
Sources: FedScoop, Washington Examiner, MSN
