On Thursday, 11 March 2010, in testimony before a subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, it was disclosed that the failure rate associated with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-employment polygraph screening program stands at 60 percent. New York Times correspondent Randal C. Archibold reports, among other things:
Polygraph examinations, which officials call an important tool to help weed out bad hires, were administered to about 15 percent of applicants by the end of 2009.
That was an increase from the 10 percent of the previous year, but made possible only because hiring slowed for the first time in several years.
James F. Tomsheck, who is in charge of internal affairs for Customs and Border Protection, said that about 60 percent of candidates failed the test and were turned away, including some who officials believed had ties to criminal organizations.
Senator Mark Pryor, an Arkansas Democrat and chairman of the subcommittee that held the hearing, described the failure rate as “alarming to me.”
“It is to me, too, sir,” Mr. Tomsheck replied.
He said the agency had 31 polygraph examiners but needed 50 more to reach a goal of screening all new hires.
In addition, he said, the agency is far behind in conducting periodic background checks of current law enforcement employees.
He also proposed giving periodic polygraph examinations to those employees but said that Congressional authorization and financing would be needed.
In assessing the significance of the 60% polygraph failure rate, it is important to bear in mind the 2002 finding of the National Academy of Sciences that polygraph screening is completely invalid. Upon completion of a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on polygraphy, the NAS advised that “its accuracy in distinguishing actual or potential security violators from innocent test takers is insufficient to justify reliance on its use in employee security screening in federal agencies.”
Applying polygraph screening to all CBP applicants will not solve the problem of corruption within the organization. Polygraphy is highly vulnerable to countermeasures, and members of criminal enterprises seeking to infiltrate CBP will likely fool the lie detector. Meanwhile, given polygraphy’s complete lack of scientific underpinnings and inherent bias against the truthful, many well-qualified applicants will be wrongly excluded from the agency. Anecdotally, AntiPolygraph.org has heard from a number of CBP applicants who report having been falsely accused of deception.
My history: No criminal record, 21yrs old, Bachelor’s degree, got a 93 on the Entrance exam, never drank underage, never used any pot or other drugs. I disclosed everything questionable I’ve done in my past, from illegal downloading, trespassing as a dumb kid, careless driving/drifting, to even my sexually “deviant” behavior including masturbating in a car as a mid-teen, and having sex in a public park, all because these things are technically “illegal.” There were other things I mentioned but these were the worst. I went to my exam 2 weeks ago, passed all questions but the one “are you intentionally omitting or falsifying any information you disclosed on the application ‘forms?'” Which was a clear “no” for me, with having nothing else to hide in my history… I’ll swear on ANYTHING to that. They tested me again that day and got a similar result. My examiner told me he wanted to test me again in a couple of weeks, so today I went back with a different examiner, where I disclosed even more embarrassing information that I honestly forgot the first time. Guess what? SAME F**&ing result! He said he was going to forward his “report” to quality control and I left, after explaining how pissed I was for “not knowing what else on Earth I could be ‘hiding'” He said that I “KNOW” what I am hiding, and that it isn’t just “nerves” or “forgetting” something. The interesting part is that for apparently “deliberately” lying on the “intentionally falsifying/omitting information” question, I still passed the “do you intend to answer all the questions truthfully today?” question… which is funny because if I was going to fail a specific question, shouldn’t I fail the one that’s even broader? Doesn’t make sense. The examiner also asked me “if you’re offered a 3rd chance to come here for further questioning would you be interested?” I said yes, but now I’m more pissed than anything.
incredible reading your experience, it was EXACTLY my same experience, I mean, evrything, same responses from examiner saying with that deep stupid voice “You’re hidding something from me” ridicoulous. I was so mad and frustrated. any how, I’m amazed that your story is an exact reflection of mine, I mean, everything, it looks like they are the one that are hiring something from you and they are the one who are intentioally dumping you from the hiring process.
Took the poly 2 months ago and I have gotten the same response. I didn’t have much to respond with except stuff I had done in my teen and early 20″s. I have not had a conviction of any felony, misdemeanor, nothing questionable that can land me in the suspicion zone. I am not 40 and had started the process 3 years ago. The examiner stated that when the question of whether I have dealt drugs, or used drugs, or even sold anything illegal on work premises my graphs on the polygraph were off the charts, and in fact, when asked the question I didn’t even think twice about the question and said no. But when she asked me I was like “what?! I didn’t even think of anything during that time” so she went back and did the test again, but at that time I was thinking “man, what could be setting off the meter?” And I was trying to think what but could come up with nothing. Yet, she swore up and down left and right that I am hiding something and that if I just came out and told “the truth” then she would understand. I declared that ” I don’t know what you want me to tell you but I have never, nor will I ever, deal drugs or do anything illegal at all during or off my work time.” I did say ” well I have no idea what could be setting off the meter, except that all I can remember back in my high school years I did hang out with shady individuals and I was very naïve at the time, I do remember taking a friend to a few houses to pick up some stuff. But I explained I didn’t know what but I was like whatever during those years. That was 20 years ago, and even she had said it was long ago. I don’t know, I wonder if we are supposed to “answer a certain way” sort of speak. Maybe I shouldn’t have even felt the need to try and explain why I could be thinking at all but that shouldn’t even be a reason to be disqualified. We try to be truthful even trying to think back , to dig up old memories and explain any questionable occurrences but for what? Are they looking for a specific individual? Sociopaths maybe? who knows. Seriously, I have a few friends who are agents now, we pot heads and had thug friends, and I have no idea how they go in, except that there was a fast tracking of new recruits that dodged the polygraph which could explain it. I am washed out now , unless they up the cut off age to 45.
I have to go for Polygraph next week … anybody can give idea what kind of question asked?
The questions are really basic, but what takes forever is disclosing anything that might trigger a “lie” which in my case ended up being BS anyways. I only had 3 basic questions that I could mess up actually, with the other questions being controls. When I went it took over 3hrs before I even sat in the chair. All time before was spent discussing forms and going over any “potential” criminal things in my past, which we all have, even if you have nothing on your record like me. @JIMY
Polygraphers ask the following: have you ever lied? cheated on your wife? ever assaulted a person in anyway? have relatives in MX? have you gone into MX?tried any illegal drugs?, (anything over mariguana will disqualify you)you know any current federal agents, do you know of any corruption going on? Are you involved in any illegal activity? have you ever sold drugs? Have you ever stolen from your work place? have you ever stabbed a person, have you impersonated a law emforcement officer? Has a drug cartel asked to infiltrate US customs? have you read any blog or websites related to POLYGRAPHS? have you ever ready ANTIPOLYGRAPH.ORG? Did you research the polygraph? How many time have you done drugs(if admissions) have you served in the armed forces? Do you have tattoos? Did you drive to your polygraph test? where did you park your car? etc.
Just got my official rejection letter. My polygraph was on January 15th, and I got the letter March 4th. PATHETIC!
my polygraph test was more than a year ago, which I failed obviusly, and on the CBP web site my application is till active, funny!
When I took my polygraph in South Carolina Fort Jackson, I thought my agent was so incompetent. Firt he had to start it over twice, then he said my hand was not sweating so he put the object that I had to put our hand on back in the microwave to make it hotter and then he place my hand on it then put my hand on it and place a plastic bag over my hand(what????) I said this will make my hand sweat he said, not the sweat they looking for (WHAT?) After the test he said I fail. I thought he was joking because I was as honest as I could, well that is what I thought. He said that the test indicated that I lied when I said I have never sold, buy, distributed, or been a look out for drug sales (WHAT?) I knew that was a joke, I try to argue and told him to take it over he said he could not. This is so absurd, I serve 20 plus years in the military never got in trouble at nopoint in my life, and here a incompetent agent and a computer ended a career that I was looking forward too. Life goes on. I call the supervisor and told him, ( the integrity of these guys need to be check. I asked for a copy of it he said he will call me back in 10 min and never called back, I emailed him and he never response back, I got my denail letter. POLYGRAPH TESTING SUCK THEY ARE NOT ACCURATE AT ALL ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE POINT THAT I WAS BASICALLY A DRUG DEALER. (WHAT THE F$$#@)
I took the polygraph at Fort Jackson also. Who was your agent?
I took this polygraph test sometime last year> I failed and was told I was not suitable for the job. They never told me why I failed. My process was completed and was waiting for EOD date. without any kind of notification from anyone, on day I received a phone call from a special agent telling me he needed to bring me in for a polygraph test. When I started my process this polygraph examination wasn’t part of the process. I’ve been trying to appeal this to IA and all they tell me is that I have no right to appeal and that this is a final desicion. I contacted several people in CBP and the US Congress. All I got from one congress man was that he was going to look into it and get back to me. This was more that 5 months now and still waiting to hear from him. I went to my local congress woman and was told that if she doesn’t know me she will not help me out. But yet she was calling me when it came to voting for her last year. This is our goverment! sad to know they hire people based on a polygraph that some people with criminal background are able to pass it.
I was told that I am out of the BP Process because I was on Ritalin a few years back. Anyone else have a problem with the Medical? I
My husband has been waiting to get into the border patrol for years. He is the most honest person I know and failed the polygraph test. He is devastated! He didnt lie! He is a honest man who has never done drugs, never drank and has always been a moral hard working man. They should actually look into a persons life not trust a machine. I am heartbroken for our family but mostley for my husband who has been waiting for this position for years!
I have a son in law that failed because he said he never used drugs they said he lied. then I know another kid that did drugs even sold drugs and guess what he passed he’s going to the class in two weeks go figure.
Don’t you love how the system works, they rather hire drug dealers than well qualified applicants.
This test is straight Bull Shit! All this test does is cover up for the current and past officers getting busted. CBP is just trying to clean up their repertation with congress to get more funds. It’s all a Game and for those who fail the test, that’s just part of the Game! Before the examiner meets you, they all got it figured out who will pass and who will fail. It’s all a numbers game to keep the heat off their backs! The research is out there explaining the test is worthless. But they trick everyone into using it. If you really trying to catch a crook do a hands on background check. It’s almost impossible to hid anything with one of those. But wait that would cost to much, what the hell was I thinking!!
This test is ridiculous! My husband has taken the test more than once. A person that was taking the test that same day in another room informed him this was his third time taking the test. If this thing was so accurate they wouldn’t feel the need to re-test more than once! Not to mention the time and money that people are already loosing to go get this test to then just be told you failed. This is a machine which is not a 100% accurate so why use it as so?
I was given the polygraph examination, which consisted of the IA officer trying to be your bussy saying “get it off your chest”, so ofcourse you say what you have done in the past that really doesnt constitute you being a criminal. I’ve been to parties when I was a teenager and you would have the lingering aroma of marijuana. So I admitted sure I may of smelled it, doesnt mean I smoked it. So they go on saying well did you get a contact high. I replied” Im not sure, because ive never been high, maybe”. After the interrogation that was given for 8 hours the IA officer said basically you know the answer to the exam that you failed, after being in the process of a clean background and credit check, I was astonished to know that because of something you never done and may have been around it and said it you failed the test. I didnt and dont lie for anything, yet a computor program determins your fate. The failure rate of the examination is 60%!! I bet if you administor the exam to current employees I wonder how many would fail. The polygraph is a joke that shouldnt be the final consideration for the job, but thats my opinion. Good luck to everyone.
Email your Senator, Congressman. TELL THEM POLYGRAPH IS NOT ACCURATE.
Once you fail, You are Barred three year from applying again.
My son was polygraphed, and I agree on the 60% failure rate. His case is only about text messaging for 3 days, since he had plea deal, and the text messages were never admitted as evidence, the examiner used poor false reports. He was given 3 questions. He responded No to all 3 questions. Examiner reported Significant Response. I know from reading the text transcripts, he responded truthfully by responding No. As for the third question was another crappy question about intent. So the evidence shows at a minimum, 66% failure. Oh, by the way did I mention he is AUTISTIC with cognitive deficits.
is there anyway we can appeal the results of the polygraph examination? im 25 married never did anything wrong (hard to believe because everyone says the same thing) but I never smoked, never drank (against my religion) straight A student, just traveled and my instructor told me I was hiding something like a foreign contact. Can we appeal the results and ask for a re examination????
I know of 2 people that have failed the CBP polygraph, one ended up passing his FBI polygraph and is currently a special agent, and the other ended up passing his US Secret Service polygraph and is currently an agent. I also know of another that “failed” the CBP polygraph on the post interview, he had answered the “prior drug use” question saying he had smoked marihuana 3 times some 15 years ago in his application, during the post interview a very nice and polite polygraph examiner told him he had “failed” the dreaded drug question in the polygraph, then he proceeded to “confess” that he had done mudhrooms 1 time in highschool, so he failed the polygraph and because he basicly confessed to “lying” he will never be able to apply to any federal law enforcement agency. The lesson to be learned here is: 1) stick to your guns, if for example you wrote on your application “I only smoked marihuana once” you better answer “once” otherwise you will pretty much fcuking yourself out of a federal job for life, unless you can bring some unique skills to the agency and people at a high enough level can interfere on your behalf favorably(it happens from time to time, it doesn’t happen very often but it happens, everything in life except death is negotiable) and 2) You can “fail” a CBP polygraph and “pass” another polygraph in a different agency and it won’t affect your ability to succesfully gain employment at that second “more prestigious” agency.
Mike,
There is no meaningful appeal process for federal law enforcement applicants who are falsely accused of deception by their polygraphers. While re-examinations may be granted, the process is rigged, and those offered “re-tests” almost always “fail.”
Nonetheless, it would be prudent to contest the results in writing. Your letter should be added to your applicant file, which may be shared with any other federal agency with which you might at some future date seek employment. You don’t want the last thing in your file to be your polygrapher’s uncontested false accusation of deception.
So is there a way to send a written statement? The only way to find who to send it to is to look on my application letter. I had tried to get info on this website for BP applicants but mysteriously I cannot log in nor read posts, it always says “website is not available at this time”. I was flunked and accused that i was involved in “illegal activity” during my work hours. I laughed in my head. I don’t know if i was being tested or from that time on I was doomed to fail regardless if I told them what they wanted. The premise of such a test I am starting to think is , not really about telling the truth but, if you will bend on your own conviction, in the likely case you are caught in a bind and accused of wrong doing, in court or out of, or if confronted by someone trying to bribe you or coheres you into letting someone pass or letting someone bring a load of drugs across the border.
I have failed the polygraph 3 times. I have been a US Marine for 10 years and have never been convicted of a crime. I have a few speeding tickets and thats about it. The first time I failed the polygraph it was the drug related questions then I went back and took it a second time and it came back inconclussive. Well on the third try i ended up passing the drug questions and we moved on to the serious crimes and quess what I failed the serious crimes. I have already admitted to everything and have nothing else to hide but the examiner made me feel like I was lying and was hiding something. So I went home and talked to my wife and even she cannot remeber anything that I might have done to make me fail. Know i am waiting to see if they are going to call me back for a 4th polygraph or stop my process all together.
I had my polygraph a few weeks ago and was called a liar even though I answered everything honestly. I have been in the hiring process for just over 2 years now. My story is pretty much the same as most of the stories here. They emailed me a few days ago scheduling me to retake the polygraph again soon. I’m going to go into this one with low expectations/hopes because I don’t want to walk out of it feeling like garbage for the following week like I did after the last one. I’m hoping to get this job, but at this point, I’m trying not to get my hopes too high.
I’m a veteran that got out of the Army last month, I have taken over 5 polygraph (LAPD, Dallas PD, Arlington PD, CID, CBP) for employment purpose and never failed a single one. When I took the first one with CBP back in New Orleans I was told by the Examiner that my Poly was good to go and that I would more than likely will be going to the August Academy. 3 weeks later I received a call from the Office of Internal Affairs in Dallas to schedule a second polygraph because apparently the first one was inconclusive. To my surprise, I was told that i failed my second polygraph at first because supposedly I “was taking deep breath” and then because I was being too sensitive about a question regarding falsification to the CBP forms. I will take this as far as I can so please assist me on this matter. Polygraph are not admissible in court for a reason, this is really discouraging.
Good afternoon, my daughter just received an email from Customs that mimicked the exact language and content disclosed by other individuals here. I am very concerned when young people like my daughter are subject to a bureaucratic system that prefers to have individuals with criminal records working for them. It appears that there needs to be an investigation into the hiring practices of Home Land Security. Ms. Martinez and others you are not alone, enough is enough.
I worked for CBP back in 2007-2008 as a CBPO. I re applied and guess what I got the same response and results as everyone on this forum. What a shame.
I am glad that some of the people on here were not hired to represent our country. They don’t seem literate in English! Yikes people. Get back in school.
jctp you have no idea of the anger and frustration these people are going through. You should show your smartness by not making comments like this. It takes away from your merits.
Well here I am a United States Navy 24 year retired ” Master-At-Arms Chief of Police” Active Secret Clearance and all. Currently a Department of Defense Police Officer. Past duties, Lead Investigator, Patrol Supervisor, Police Dispatch Center Supervisor, Patrol Super Visor, Responsible for Navy and Marine SRT teams that guard Nuclear Weapons! AA in Criminal Justice 2012, Bachelors degree In Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology and Anthropology 2015, B.S., Organizational Leadership 2016. No criminal record, no tickets in over 10 years, no nothing. I told the absolute truth and I was taken out of the hiring process over one question. My polygraph examiner told me I would be sent to Tampa Florida in 3 weeks to retake that one question. In exactly 3 weeks I got a letter stating I was no longer being considered due to not passing the polygraph. If I can’t pass I don’t see how anyone can. There has to be a way to bring light on this situation. It is clearly not fair and unjust. I would not be saying this if I didn’t personally experience it. So I can go to War, guard Nuclear Weapons, F-22’s worth over a billion dollars, but I can’t check passports, borders, and cargo ships? “Houston we have a problem” God please show these people the light amazingly skilled professionals are been turned away for invalid reasons. “Now I am one of them” CBP help resolve this issue. As always kind regards.
The F.B.I had he Orlando gunman in their sights investigated him as well as interrogated him at some point, and he was still able to carry out the worst mass shooting in the history. Based on the stories shared on these posts. Many established and reputable or proven veterans, who are not only requesting to defend the borders but have defended and protected the constitution and the country as a whole. Being labeled and rejected from continuing their patriotic and selfless service, based on the results of a test being administered by a novice and a machine. I also think many of these polygraphers are more scared and nervous than the testees and hence the reason for the mess ups and high failure rate.
Polygraphs are proven to be falsifiable, and a pseudoscience. The answers are completely up to interpretation of the polygraph examiner. Reading these comments makes me feel a little better as I had almost exactly the same experience. I had already received my date to leave and was ready to go when they pulled me back out and said I had to do a polygraph even though I had had an extremely thorough background investigation with no nefarious, or illegal activity found. I had to drive 3 hours to Miami to take the test first off, then when I got to the location for the test the examiner was incredibly rude and unprofessional. I was then strapped to a chair and asked several questions over and over. I had the exam administered I believe 2-3 times the first day. I was told I failed on certain questions and to come back and do the test over again. (This was a couple of years ago) The examiner told me that I KNEW what I was hiding and that I should not be dishonest. The examiner then had an older male come into the room with her and basically just berated me for almost an hour telling me I was a liar and should “come clean”. I had been completely and embarrassingly honest on my application, no criminal record, no criminal behavior, no drug usage, nothing. I was then set up with another appointment and retook the polygraph several times in one day again, being told I was still lying, but not as dishonestly as before….What? So idiotic and completely useless test that has NEVER been backed by any scientific data to be even close to accurate. Any professional agency does not use the polygraph anymore, if anything they use the Control Voice Stress Analysis Test, which I have done and passed. CBP is losing good, qualified people because of their unprofessional and archaic systems I guess.
I totally agree with all of the negative comments posted about the CBP polygraph exam. The people in charge of given the test are usually very rude, they want the interviewed to admit something they haven’t done. They can’t believe there’s really honest people who has never done drugs or that have nothing to hide. They are really loosing good and qualified people and are hiring those with doubtful behavior. This agency should really evaluate the effectiveness of the test and probable find another way to qualify their applicants. I bet that if the test were given to CBP officers actually in service, the rate of failure would be tremendously high. The worst is that they make applicants walk out of there feeling like garbage and it takes a while for them to process the reason of the failure if they have nothing to be ashamed of.
I recently took the polygraph with CBP in January. Sorry to hear about all you folks failing. I know I failed as well. I know how difficult it is when you tell the truth. In my case I found it very amusing. The whole acting and how the examiner presented himself. Dude looked like Leonardo DiCaprio. First, he wanted to know me like he cared. “you my boy my buddy amigo tell me your life. I’m going to get you in!” After a few hours of talking. He had me go out side then come back and take the exam. Go out again come in and Bam! “You blew the exam. I know your lying! So tell me? why did you do it? I want to know about the 6 bodies you have in the closet?” Dude had me cracking seriously. I told him “if Poly says I’m lying then I guess I’m a bad liar.” he was like no there is more I need to know. I asked him which question was the one I blew. He said he couldn’t tell me. He had nothing so like I told “there is nothing to hide, what you see is what it is”. I went all Tony Montana on him lol! I didn’t crack because their was nothing to crack. Like I told him you can go years back to my bank account & see I have no need to steal cheat or deal. I don’t use drugs. The only reason I applied was because I would like to enforce the law. I believe in our system of government, but it turns out that a part of it does not believe in me. After we were done I left questioning my own integrity and felt bad. A few hours of mopping my friend who took the exam the same day called. He told me he failed as well. that he used drugs lol! I’m not going to spoil just because a shitty system does not believe in me. You folks do the same. Keep your head up!
As I read through these comments, I saw very similar situations that I went through with my three polygraphs. I am a veteran of 10 years (Honorable Discharge), Prior CBPO Employee.
During my first polygraph 02/2017 the polygrapher came infront of my polygraph chair and lifted the polygraph arms 18 inches higher. My arms are no longer in a resting position, my arms are now at my head level, by placing my arms in a higher than normal position, this automatically alters the results of the polygraph; heart rate begins to increase, breathing changes, and these slight changes in physiology begins to change and this begins to alter your physical being.
During my second polygraph 03/2017 a different polygrapher placed plastic bubble wrap that was in a small drawer over my hand, this hand was being recorded with small finger pads held together by use of velcro straps. I further explained to the polygrapher that my hand was begining to sweat, thus changing my physiology. As your body begins to rise in temperature, your sweat glands begin to open up to allow your body to begin a cooling process, and a steady pulse now becomes a faster pulse as your heart increases to bring the body down to a normal temperature range.
During my third polygraph 06/2017, I was told that I was manipulating the data questions. I further explained that I had not manipuated the data, in fact I further explained to the polygrapher that I could not prior polygraphs that were conducted and I was not able to see the data from these results. I am now asking all of you who have failed the polygraph and who believe that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was using illegal tactics such as raising the arms above to head level, or even using plastic to cover your hands while you were being polygraphed. To contact OIG.GOV or Contact Joint Intake for CBP. This needs to be reported, although you can’t appeal your results, but you can stop this from happening to other CBPO Applicant from happening.