The DHS Inspector General found a key control over CBP’s polygraph review and approval process was not always operating as intended although the agency had controls over its polygraph examination process. Specifically, in a small number of cases, the polygraph quality control program may not have always conducted independent and objective reviews (blind reviews) of polygraph examination results as required, OIG said in a July 26 report.
These complaints followed the acute staffing shortage of customs officers at the border. In January, the situation had gotten so dire that screeners from U.S. airports were reassigned to southern Arizona on an emergency basis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed 175 officers to the agency’s Tucson sector through March 2018.
During the audit, CBP addressed OIG’s concerns and updated its quality control procedures. These updated procedures — finalized in September 2017 — require independent and objective quality control reviews.
OIG also determined that 96 percent of the complaints reviewed were unfounded or ambiguous. However, CBP did not have a formal complaint review process, which led to inconsistent and subjective reviews. This approach risks not finding or properly addressing issues contained in the complaints. CBP concurred with both recommendations and implemented recommendations by revising its standard operating procedures to address quality control reviewers conducting an objective review.
CBP is updating policies that will define the polygraph review process and the appropriate actions for responding to complaints.
