Border Agents Make Killer Mistakes During Interviews: 4 Ways to Fix Them!

As a law enforcement professional at the border, you deal with a constant stream of people trying to sneak something past you, whether it’s contraband or just a wildly inconsistent story. If you're like me, you've probably gotten so frustrated with the endless lies that you felt like pulling out your hair and ended up bald. Hey, that’s my story on how I lost my hair and am sticking to it. But before you do anything dramatic make sure you're not committing these 4 common interview pitfalls that trip up even the most experienced CBP officers.

Mistake #1: Not Looking At The Person 

Most inexperience or newer officers show their lack of skills by this one mistake. The face is one of the most important area of a person the interviewer has to analyze. Here is the vast number of clues from Micro Expressions (subject we will cover in future post), nervous ticks, eye-movement, voice, etc.

How To Fix It 

Focus on the person’s face.
Once you have signaled the person they need to answer your question, don't get distracted by looking at documents, IDs, cellphones or computer screens. These first few seconds of the interview are vital to establish rapport and baseline behavior.

 

Mistake #2: Asking Leading Questions

 

"Are you coming for vacation or work?"

"Will you be staying in a hotel or with friends?"

"Are you driving or flying there?"

 

The issue is that you're including the answers in your questions, making it too easy for the other person. As a result, whatever they say will seem correct to you because you already thought of it yourself.

How to Fix It

Use Open-Ended questions

"What are you coming to do?"

"Where will you be staying?"

"How will you get to your final destination?"

 

Open-Ended questions demand a lot of information from the person. Therefore, fabricating instantaneous lies will create enormous stress that can leak as verbal or non-verbal nervousness, making it easier for you to detect omission or deceit. Caution: Don’t accept one-word answers, such as vacation, verbally ask for more details.

 

Mistake #3: Asking Negative Questions

"I’m NOT going to find any drugs in your bags?"

"You are NOT coming to work illegally in the U.S.?"

"You DON’T have anything to declare?"

 

Negative questions lead to simple yes or no answers, giving people an easy way out. Yet, I constantly hear officers framing questions this way, making it easy for individuals and harder for them to detect deception.

 

How to Fix It

Ask Questions In The Positive

"What illegal items am I GOING TO FIND in your bags?"

"WILL YOU BE working here illegally?"

"What items DO YOU HAVE to declare?"

 

By asking the question in this format, you’re making the person think for a response that can potentially reveal a key piece of information or nervous behavior. This point goes well with the next correct technique.   

 

Mistake #4: Lack of confidence

 

"IF I check your luggage, what am I going to find?

"I THINK you have drugs?"

“Maybe I’ll Find Something”

 

IF and I THINK shows there is NO certainty, which comes from lacking confidence on what you will do or can do. I’ve seen very muscular, male officers with full gear and body armor get intimidated by a 5’4” 115 pounds female with simply her looks and confidence.

How to Fix It

First eliminate IF, MAYBE, I THINK, PROBABLY or any word from your questions that does not show “certainty." Second, work on your delivery meaning tone of voice, pitch and definitely eye contact. Third, practice, practice and then practice some more asking the right question with the right delivery. Eventually, you will create great confidence in yourself that will allow you to pierce through anyone’s defenses.

 

The questions should sound like this:  

"I AM GOING to check your luggage, what illegal items am going to find?"

"I KNOW you have drugs, where is it?"

 

There you have it. You are on your way to becoming a better interviewer by correcting these 4 common interview mistakes. Don’t forget to share this with your coworkers and remember just like the proper question can pierce through any defense, only the proper, industry-specific Tactical Seeker Knife can help you cut and probe for hidden narcotics. Get yours at our Shop!