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I actually started my CBP journey back in 2013. I took the written computer based test and scored a 98%, did the video based test and the structured interview and was told that I did very well and would make a great candidate. After completing the medical screening and the PT test I was given a date to be administered the polygraph in Washington D.C.
A little background on myself before I get to my experience. I currently work as a local law enforcement officer in South Carolina and had to pass a polygraph. I also hold a Secret security clearance through the military and have held a Top Secret clearance in the past. I have taken a passed a number of polygraphs in the past during interview processes for previous jobs and two for departments I ended up not working for. Needless to say I have nothing to hide and my youth experiences have always been laid on the table holding nothing back.
Back to the experience, I was given contact information for Yolanda Edwards, the agent assigned to my "case." I attempted to contact Ms. Edwards a number of times before the test to ask questions about any items I may need for the test, what the appropriate attire was and the parking and traffic situations to get to her office. I never heard anything back and she would not return my calls. My first contact with her was to get into the building and that was even done through third party. My appointment was schedule fro 9:00 a.m. to which Ms. Edwards had someone in her office say she was not ready and I did not officially meet her until about 10:15.
Upon entering her office, Ms. Edwards introduced herself and stated she had been doing polygraphs for Customs and Border for 17 years (a look online stated she had been working for the Army until 2015 and CBP did not start doing polygraphs for new hires until early 2000's). She stated "the polygraph was 100% accurate and if I was lying, even if I was nervous or moving around, it would be able to filter that out and see the lie." She said she already knew e-Qip due to being so busy)everything about me (she stated she briefly looked over my and if I told the truth it would be a quick day and I would be in the academy in a few months. She asked the typical questions that are usually asked on the tests I have taken. Drugs use and history, crime history, domestic violence, child pornography, buying stolen goods, cheating on tests in high school or college, lying to an employer, etc. We started with the old number in front of you she ask is it 1,2,3, etc and you have to say no to all, purposely lying once. This was to "calibrate the device so it will know how to read my body" in her words. This is where the issues started. Ms. Edwards attached the cords around my chest and abdomen so tight I could barely breathe and tightened the blood pressure cuff to a point my hand started to turn a different color from lack of circulation. I attempted to explain this to her to which she told me to "stop talking, it will mess with the readings." After the set up I was asked to a waiting room and I would be called back in shortly.
Thirty minutes later I was back in Ms. Edwards office where "the official test" would begin. She stated she would ask a general set of questions and that she may have to ask them 3 or 4 times depending on the reading she got. This seemed strange to me being that she said her device was 100% accurate about an hour prior. She went through the questions once and kept telling me to "stop moving" "stop trying to control your breathing" etc. She stopped halfway through the second set and said she could not get an accurate reading because I was moving my fingers. I explained to her the blood pressure cuff was cutting my circulation to which she became very angry and said "are you telling me I don't know how to do my job, I have been doing this for 17 years. You don't have the intestinal fortitude to set for 6 minutes and answer questions." She started again this time breathing heavily, chewing on ice from her cup, and making comments such as "this is ridiculous, he won't stop moving." After answering the questions another three times, she angrily unhooked me from the machine and told me to wait outside that she would be with me in about 10 minutes. Thirty minutes passed by and she came back to the waiting room to get me again.
This time the tone was different. Ms. Edwards has me take a seat, slams her glasses on a folder and says "I told you all you had to do was tell the truth, and you lied. You lied about drugs. You have a history with drugs, I believe you have dealt drugs and you are currently on drugs." At this point I stuck to my guns and told her I had given her everything truthfully and I had nothing to hide and if she believed I was on drugs that I would voluntarily submit to urinalysis right on the spot. This made her even more mad and she stated "it wouldn't matter, you are a master of manipulation. You have set here and tried to manipulate me and the machine. You are a liar, I can't believe we trusted people like you to depend this nation." At this point I told her I had admitted to smoking marijuana in high school four times and that was the only drug usage I had ever taken part in. I was going to stick to my guns and if that failed me then so be it. She then told me "admit to something, I can make this all go away, you can still get a job here, you can be on the border this time next year if you just tell the truth." I once again stuck to my story, I had nothing to hide. She then told me "we are done, I will submit this to quality control and they can decide you fate." I asked her if there was a way I could speak with quality control or appeal what had transpired. She stated she was my mouthpiece with quality control and she would be telling them that I was a liar and that I would never work for CBP as long as she had a say so. She then asked me if I felt I had been treated fairly and if she was thorough to which I responded no. She then asked if I were to get a reevaluation if I would feel comfortable with her giving it to which I answered no as well. She asked me what my days off were and told me they would reschedule me accordingly if needed. She further stated that I could get a reevaluation due to them not being able to fill classes due to so many polygraph failures. She walked me to the door and just like that my CBP dreams came to an end. Three weeks later I received notification that my polygraph was unfavorable and that I could not appeal the decision.
I have read of a class action lawsuit against these people, and I would love to ad my name to it. I feel that good candidates are being screwed out of a great career by this jacked up process. I feel that this is a discriminatory act with a device that is not even admissible in a court of law. If this machine is 100% accurate then how have there been people with connections to cartels and major drug dealers get through the system? How is it that vets fail majority of the time? Why are we not allowed to see our results and read the examiners reports? Most of all why are we not allowed to appeal or give our side of the story? I hope somebody on here can help me or steer me in the right direction of finally putting an end to this corrupt, unprofessional weak link in the CBP hiring process. I also wonder if there is a way we could sue for slander due to the outrageous comments made to me and others I have read their testimony on sites such as this?
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