Customs Chief Wants Airline Passenger Lists

The new Customs Service commissioner says he wants his agency to have access to airlines’ advance lists of passengers to screen for possible terrorists.

Robert C. Bonner said in an Associated Press interview that he first wants the passenger information for all international flights bound for U.S. soil. He said Congress also should consider mandating that such information be turned over for domestic flights.

Customs has access to about 85% of international flight passenger information under a voluntary program with the airlines. It has no information on domestic flights.

“I believe that it would be extremely valuable if there is a requirement that the airlines provide that information to Customs, to feed it into our database and thereby identify potential terrorists or other suspects who make an attempt to enter the U.S.,” he said.