A Game Changer for CBP Officers: Don't Ask Questions--Make Statements!

At the end of a long shift at a busy international airport, a group of officers compared stories on a string of tough interviews. One officer sighed, “It’s easier working construction in the Florida sun than getting answers out of these passengers.”

That’s when I told them: “Stop asking questions—start making statements.”

The room went quiet. Everyone leaned in.

I was feeling the same frustration, so I looked for other techniques, because let’s be honest—most of us are trained to ask questions to get answers. But when dealing with deceptive prepared smugglers or criminal, questions don’t always work. Questions alert passengers to put their guard up. They think before speaking, measure their words, and fall back on deceptive or evasive tactics like, “I don’t recall.” That’s where this new approach flips the script.

Sean Hughes and the Statement Approach

Sean Hughes, international body language expert and author of Six-Minute X-Ray, has spent years studying how to get people talking. His advice? Stop relying only on questions.

Instead, Hughes recommends using statements that spark the traveler’s natural human need: the need to correct, to clarify, to be understood, or to explain. When you make the right kind of statement, the passenger often volunteers more detail than they ever would if you asked a direct question.

Why does this work? Because a statement removes the pressure of interrogation. It doesn’t trigger “a passenger’s defensive alarm system” the way questions do. Passengers feel freer to talk—and in that freedom, they often reveal what you need to know.

The Three Layers of the Statement Method

Here’s a simple, three-step sequence Hughes utilizes often:

1. Make a Correctable Statement

Start with a statement that pushes the traveler to correct you.

• Example: “So, you’ve been here for two weeks straight.”
• If that’s inaccurate, they’ll jump in: “No, it was only 10 days.”
• Just like that, you’ve got more detail without asking a single question.

2. Make a Provocative Statement

Take what they said and make a statement that challenges or minimizes it.

• Example: “Ten days sounds like a short trip for something that far away.”
• The traveler will often justify their story, giving you even more information.

3. Claim Disbelief

Finally, make a statement that shows doubt—without asking for an answer.

• Example: “That doesn’t really sound like the whole picture.”
• This forces the passenger to expand their explanation, fill gaps, or reveal inconsistencies.

Why Officers Should Use This Technique

By shifting from questions to statements, you:

• Maintain control of the interview.
• Lower resistance, since you’re not questioning but simply stating.
• Draw out details voluntarily, as the traveler feels compelled to clarify.
• Break rehearsed stories, since it’s harder to stick to short, prepared answers.

It’s subtle. It’s professional. And when delivered with the right tone, it’s one of the most effective interviewing tools you can use.

Final Thoughts

The next time you face a tough interview, remember: you don’t always need another question. Sometimes, a well-placed statement is what gets people talking.

Always sharpen your skills, stay focused on the mission, and don’t forget—check out our STORE for cool, mission-specific gear designed to keep CBP officers safer and sharper. Follow @kazadorgear on social for some exciting news coming really soon!