Originally Posted by
AsiaFlyer2014
CBP has refrained from any clear statements on this point, but my impression is that there are three issues that may be contributing to keeping the U.S. from participating in pre-clearance processing:
My statement was specifically about processing pre-clearance for U.S. cardholders.
1) Security concerns
Right now the U.S. has total control over the application process for U.S. visas, including required interviews. However, if they start granting pre-clearance approval (and therefore visa-free access) to foreign ABTC cardholders, then they will have to rely on the judgment of the card issuing authorities in the cardholders' home economies. I think the U.S. is a little uneasy about trusting other governments to properly screen ABTC applicants, especially since no interviews are required.
THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH PRE-CLEARANCE FOR U.S CARDHOLDERS.
2) Budget concerns
CBP's current plan to issue ABTC cards does not require any major investments on their part (other than printing cards) because all applicants are already screened through existing programs like Trusted Traveler. However, if CBP had to submit and review pre-clearance applications to/from other economies, they would need to make substantial new IT and staff investments to support these activities. It sounds like budget constraints may be limiting their options in this regard.
THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH PRE-CLEARANCE FOR U.S CARDHOLDERS.
3) Privacy concerns
It sounds like CBP has some concern over how the data of U.S. cardholders will be protected if it is submitted to other APEC economies for pre-clearance review. Although again, 19 other economies don't seem to have a problem with this. This may be another case where CBP just needs to become more familiar with practices in other economies.
Questions.
1. Are you just speculating on this? Why is there no mention of this in any of the proceedings, legislative record, etc.?
2. Why is there a greater privacy issue than if the cardholder has to submit his passport and information directly to embassies/consulates of the participating countries?
3. Why is this a matter for the CBP? If applicants voluntarily applying for the program know specifically they are submitting their information for pre-clearance, isn't that the choice of the applicant.
4. Other than the NSA, the CBP is the world's most massive coercive collector of private personal information? Do you really think they are concerned about personal privacy?