Aug. 30, 2004 -- Janice Carpio, KFOX News at Nine

Its the only way federal agents say they can prevent terrorism from coming through these security checkpoints and thats with additional agents and stricter checks. But these changes will be invisible to the average eye and expected to stop any interruption of the presidential election.

For El Pasoans, the wait they face when crossing the border isn't anything new. Neither is the common searches in their vehicles out and even under but with the terror threat level elevated at the international bridges what these officers are looking for may change and how it's done is top secret says FBI Agent Art Werge, "more than likely the port of entries will increase scrutiny checks, so really that would mean a little bit longer waits, longer checks, so we're trying to do this with good merit and good intelligence."

While the security measures taken remain unknown to the average person, for agents involved it's a step up from the already strong enforcement, "spotting false documents, telling when someone is lying with what they're presenting and what they're saying, finding compartments, thing where items may be hidden," says Roger Maier from Customs and Border Protection.

In July, Intelligence reported the possibility of Al Qaida striking the U-S just before the presidential elections. This time, they may plan to use the border to get close something local officials have been anticipating "terrorism is relatively new as far as a major concern for border agents, but it's something we've been working towards being prepared for quite sometime."

200 border agents have been moved to high threat areas. Something we're told can be anything with regard to geographical location or a particular intelligence.

Now despite the lack of details due to security reasons here is what has been announced.

Cargo inspections have increased and equipment is being shared with Mexican law officers.

Terrorists will also have to deal with a Joint terrorism task force which involves 44 agencies throughout the border. Also officials tell us the new single management structure that overlooks all the activity here will also make a difference.