Cellebrite License Renewal

USBP requires a variety of digital forensics tools to mitigate identified gaps and satisfy operational needs in support of Border Patrol operations and counter TCO efforts. These forensic tools allow for the extraction of electronic content to be preserved and analyzed for evidentiary purposes. For over a decade, USBP has utilized Cellebrite tools nationwide.

Cellebrite offers commercially available tools to include the UFED used to acquire evidence on certain popular electronic devices utilizing advanced security features. These tools require an annual license renewal to provide warranty coverage and software updates. The warranty and updates provide additional mobile device support and new cables for mobile device connection to the Cellebrite ruggedized handheld units and software solutions installed on deployed workstations (desktops and laptops).

The software requires annual license renewals to sustain continued functionality. Upon expiration of the license/warranty, USBP will no longer receive software updates nor the hardware (cables) to support new digital and mobile devices. This will result in USBP not being able to fully examine, extract, image or analyze devices with outdated software versions that do not support the current devices on the market.

Additionally, USBP will not be able to fully examine mobile devices from persons of national interest such as Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS) matches, which would directly impact on national security.