A Deterministic Equivalent Problem to Study the Effects of Security Policies

Abstract

A Deterministic Equivalent Problem (DEP) is developed to understand the assignment of threats to secondary inspection at a U.S.-Mexican border port of entry, and how the overall assignment can affect security and the overall reward of further inspection. The United States and bordering countries benefit from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). But amongst the positive effects of NAFTA there is a looming drug threat that effects the overall flow of companies supply chains. In 2011, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processed over 64,000 trucks, rail, and sea containers a day. During that 2011 Fiscal year CBP seized 5 million lb of narcotics, including nearly 370,000 lb at the ports of entry. The objective of the developed DEP is to incorporate real time data and to quantify how security officials assign threats to secondary inspection. This information can provide insight into staffing, resource allocation, and the disruption of industrial supply chains. This study will focus on the Pharr–Reynosa International Port of Entry. The expected outcome of the DEP will provide security officials insight into security policies and the associated cost associated with those strategies.