Summary

Requires the Department of Homeland Security to run pilot projects testing advanced, nonintrusive inspection technologies for vehicles and cargo at land ports of entry, with built-in privacy and civil liberties safeguards and regular reporting on results, costs, and recommendations. Pilots must begin within one year, may run up to five years, and must include technology, privacy reviews, and interim and final reports. The law bars any new appropriations for these pilots, so DHS must use existing resources or reprogram funds to carry them out. It also defines key terms used in the law to clarify who and what the pilots cover.

Key Points

• Mandates DHS to run pilot projects testing advanced, nonintrusive vehicle and cargo inspection technologies at land ports of entry.
• Pilots must begin within one year of enactment and may run up to five years.
• Pilots must test multiple technology categories and include privacy and civil liberties protections and analyses.
• DHS must produce interim and final reports detailing results, costs, operational impacts, and recommendations.
• No additional appropriations are authorized; implementation must use existing DHS resources or reprogrammed funds.
• Defines key terms to clarify program implementation and responsibilities.
• Focus is on evaluation and reporting rather than immediate nationwide deployment or procurement.
• Requirement increases oversight and transparency through mandated reporting and privacy assessments.

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