A user on the online learning platform Quizlet created a public flashcard set titled "USBP Review," which detailed security protocols and gate access codes for a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in Kingsville, Texas. The flashcards had been public since February of this year and were only set to private on March 20, after WIRED magazine reached out to a phone number believed to be associated with the user.
The flashcards contained specific details regarding entry and exit management. One card asked, "Checkpoint gate code?" and provided a specific four-digit combination in the answer. Another card inquired about the code for a specific gate at the facility, similarly listing the exact combination. While WIRED was able to identify an individual with the same name as the user living in an apartment less than a mile from the Kingsville CBP facility, it remains unconfirmed whether the flashcard set was created by a current CBP agent or a contractor.
Official Professional Responsibility Review Launched
In response to the leak, a CBP spokesperson issued a statement to WIRED: "This matter is currently under review by the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility. We will not comment further until the review is complete. The initiation of a review process does not in itself imply that misconduct has occurred."
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not respond to requests for comment. If the flashcard set was indeed created by someone affiliated with the CBP, it would represent a significant lapse in the agency’s security protocols. The CBP’s stated mission is to "protect the homeland," and the exposure of these four-digit combinations directly compromises the physical security perimeter of the facility in question.
