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Homeland Security 5 Year Anniversary 2003 - 2008, One Team, One Mission Securing the Homeland

Fact Sheet: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center

Release Date: 09/07/04 00:00:00

Background

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  • On March 1, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was created as part of the Department of Homeland Security.
  • CBP combines the personnel and functions of four different government organizations – inspectional functions of U.S. Customs, Immigration and Agriculture, as well as the U.S. Border Patrol - into one agency to manage, control and secure our nation’s borders.
  • CBP’s priority mission is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering or exiting the United States, while simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

National Targeting Center (NTC)

  • The NTC began around-the-clock operations on November 10, 2001, to provide tactical targeting and analytical research in support of Customs anti-terrorism efforts.
  • NTC is staffed with 40 permanent expert Targeters and Analysts.
  • NTC maintains a contingent of 20 field officers who are detailed for 90-120 days.
  • March 1, 2003, the NTC mission broadened commensurately with the CBP role in support of Homeland Security.
  • NTC receives 350-400 calls per day.
  • NTC generates an average of 175-200 Activity Logs per day.
  • NTC processes approximately 60 TIPOFF lookouts daily.
  • NTC is now an invaluable anti-terrorism tool, consolidating and analyzing information across several agencies to help prevent further acts of terrorism and national security concerns.
  • The NTC uses risk management at a national level to provide tactical targeting expertise, thereby supporting the nation's anti-terrorism efforts.
  • NTC supports and provides training to field units.
  • The NTC moved into its new, state-of-the-art facilities in January 2003.

National Targeting Center—Current Status

  • Centralized NTC targeting endeavors, combined with intra and interagency collaboration, assure CBP of a coordinated response to terrorist and national security events.
  • The NTC is primarily staffed by CBP Officers and Analysts, representing Immigration, Customs and Agriculture expertise, as well as U.S. Border Patrol Officers and CBP Intelligence Analysts.
  • December 8, 2003 – CBP Office of Information and Technology, Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS) opened the Radiation Portal Monitor and Tele-forensics Center at the NTC.
  • December 11, 2003, the Food and Drug Administration Prior Notice Center commenced around-the-clock joint targeting operations at the NTC in support of the Bio-Terrorism Act.
  • During FY 2003, liaison was also developed with a variety of external organizations, including: U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Federal Air Marshals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture
  • NTC works closely with, and supports the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) & Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) to identify and apprehend persons on the National Terrorist Watch List.
  • The NTC staff develops tactical targets from a combination of border crossing data and raw information to detect and prevent terrorists and implements of terror from crossing U.S. Borders.

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Contact: U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Media Services, 202-344-1780

-Updated 09/04

This page was last modified on 09/07/04 00:00:00