More Customs and Border Protection officers coming to Austin's airport

The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will get more help processing foreign passengers and inspecting cargo.

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will get more help processing foreign passengers and inspecting cargo.

Four additional Customs and Border Protection officers will be stationed at AUS by this fall. U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) made the announcement on Monday.

Currently, Rep. Doggett said AUS has 15 officers, which he said isn't enough to handle the increase in arrivals.

For years, a shortage of CBP officers has been an obstacle to securing new international flights and a source of major inconvenience to incoming international passengers and local businesses awaiting incoming cargo. CBP officers not only process incoming passengers from foreign destinations at the airport but also have responsibility for inspecting cargo and supervising five remote Foreign-Trade Zones that are vital to our local economy."

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin)

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP officers do the following:

• inspect merchandise, agriculture, luggage and people coming into and out of the U.S.
• intercept drugs, weapons and other illegal goods
• work with dogs to detect weapons and drugs
• fly drones

Increase in travel

Air traffic continues to grow at AUS. In 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration designated AUS as a large-hub category airport.

According to a release from Doggett's office, that's presented challenges in managing more international arrivals efficiently and securely.

"With only fifteen officers stationed in AUS, passenger and air cargo are experiencing significant, ongoing daily delays. This greatly inconveniences travelers and impedes the efficient movement of goods, negatively impacting the economy," the release said.