U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has over 60,000 employees, making it a giant in law enforcement. It’s key to keeping America safe and boosting our economy. CBP brings together customs, immigration, border security, and agriculture under one roof. This helps stop terrorists and their weapons while making sure people and goods can move safely across borders.
CBP aims to make our country safer through new ideas, smart use of information, working together, and trust. They focus on protecting us, securing our borders, and helping our economy grow. They fight terrorism, crime, and protect our borders. They also make sure people can travel and trade safely, all while being vigilant, loyal, and honest.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is one of the world’s largest law enforcement agencies, with over 60,000 employees.
- CBP combines customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection functions into a unified entity for comprehensive border management.
- CBP’s mission priorities include counterterrorism, combating transnational crime, securing the border, facilitating lawful trade, and enabling lawful travel.
- The agency emphasizes enhancing national security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
- CBP’s core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity guide its efforts to protect the American people and the homeland.
Customs and Border Protection: Guardians of America’s Frontline
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the protector of America’s borders. They work hard to keep our country safe, prosperous, and healthy. CBP has a big mission and a strong vision to play a key role in our safety and success.
Mission and Vision
CBP’s main goal is to protect the American people and our borders. They focus on counter-terrorism, fighting transnational crime, and making sure our borders are secure. They also work on making trade legal and safe, and helping people travel legally.
CBP wants to make our nation more secure through new ideas, working together, and building trust.
Enduring Mission Priorities
CBP is deeply committed to its mission. They focus on important areas:
- Counter-Terrorism: They work to stop terrorist threats to keep our homeland safe.
- Combating Transnational Crime: They use intelligence and teamwork to stop illegal goods and activities.
- Securing the Border: They keep a close watch and use the latest technology to protect our borders.
- Facilitating Lawful Trade: They help legal trade flow smoothly while stopping illegal activities.
- Facilitating Lawful Travel: They make it easier for people to enter the country safely.
With these goals in mind, CBP keeps improving and finding new ways to tackle today’s challenges. They help keep the United States a symbol of safety and success.
The Border Patrol: Vigilant Protectors of America’s Borders
The U.S. Border Patrol is key to keeping our nation safe. It is the main law enforcement for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Their main goal is to stop terrorists and dangerous weapons from coming into the U.S. They work hard, patrolling over 6,000 miles of land borders with Mexico and Canada, and 2,000 miles of coastal waters.
Patrolling America’s Land and Coastal Borders
The Border Patrol works day and night, no matter the weather or terrain. They have nearly 19,000 agents. These agents protect over 8,000 miles of U.S. borders, showing their strong commitment to our safety.
This year, the Border Patrol celebrates 100 years with events across the country. It started with just 450 officers in 1924. Now, it has over 60,000 employees under CBP. They keep stopping terrorists, stopping illegal travel and drugs, and helping legal travel and trade.
The Border Patrol is always watching, using the latest technology to catch and stop illegal crossings. Their hard work has led to big wins, like cutting illegal entries in San Diego by over 75% with Operation “Gatekeeper” in 1994.
border patrol, customs and border protection: A Growing Force
Increased Staffing and National Strategy
The border patrol and customs and border protection agencies have grown a lot over the years. They started with just a few agents in 1924. Now, the U.S. Border Patrol has over 21,000 agents by 2012’s end.
To use these new people and resources well, the Immigration and Naturalization Service made a National Border Patrol Strategy in 1994.
The customs and border protection agency has gotten more money too. Its budget went from $5.9 billion in 2003 to $17.7 billion in 2021. This money helped the agency grow, with over 60,450 employees by 2022. This includes more than 45,741 sworn federal law enforcement officers.
The robust staffing and strategic planning have helped the border patrol and customs and border protection agencies. They keep America safe, stop terrorists, and stop illegal travel and drugs. These efforts keep the nation’s borders safe.
Border Patrol Operations: Maintaining Vigilance
The U.S. Border Patrol works hard to protect America. They use many tactics and technologies to watch over our borders. These agents are always ready to keep our land and coasts safe.
Surveillance, Sensor Monitoring, and Tracking
Border Patrol uses electronic sensors along the border. These sensors help detect and alert agents to illegal entries. They also use video monitoring and night vision to keep an eye on the border.
Agents patrol on foot, in vehicles, and by boat to cover the border. They use horses, motorcycles, bicycles, and snowmobiles for tough terrain. This way, every part of the border is watched by the Border Patrol.
With the latest border surveillance tech and agents on the ground, the U.S. Border Patrol keeps up a strong watch. They protect the nation with their border patrol operations and border tracking. They also use electronic sensors and night vision tools.
Linewatch and Signcutting: Detecting Illegal Entry
The U.S. Border Patrol uses many tactics to stop illegal border crossings. Linewatch operations are key, with agents placed near borders and coasts to catch those trying to enter illegally.
Signcutting is also vital. It means looking for small signs in nature, like broken twigs or disturbed plants. These signs show where people or things might have passed through, helping the Border Patrol catch those who shouldn’t be there.
Border Patrol agents get a lot of training in border patrol linewatch and border patrol signcutting. This training helps them spot and stop illegal entries into the U.S.
- Linewatch operations: Strategically positioned near international boundaries and coastlines to intercept illegal entrants
- Signcutting: Detecting and interpreting disturbances in the natural terrain to identify the presence or passage of individuals, animals, or vehicles
- Comprehensive training: Border Patrol agents are extensively trained in linewatch and signcutting techniques to enhance their ability to detect illegal border crossings
The U.S. Border Patrol uses these tactics to keep America safe. They work hard to stop illegal activities that could harm the country or its people.
Traffic and Transportation Checkpoints
The U.S. Border Patrol is key to keeping our nation safe. They set up border patrol checkpoints on highways and transportation hubs. This helps stop illegal travel and drug smuggling.
Checkpoints are crucial for catching people who try to sneak into the country. Border Patrol agents can catch those who got past the border. They stop these individuals from moving deeper into the U.S.
Not just on highways, but the Border Patrol also checks buses, trains, planes, and boats. This helps stop illegal goods and people from entering the country.
The Border Patrol has rules for their checkpoints. They can’t break civil liberties or human rights. Agents must search and inspect safely and with respect.
With many border patrol checkpoints and checks on transport, the U.S. Border Patrol keeps our borders safe. They protect us from illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
Specialized Patrols: Horses, Bikes, and Marine Units
The U.S. Border Patrol uses special patrols to improve security along the border. These units use unique methods and gear for tough terrain. They can’t be reached by regular vehicles.
The horse units go where no car can. They move through tough landscapes and hard spots. These teams are key in remote places, using horses for their speed and strength to watch the border and fight security threats.
Then there are the bike patrols. They’re vital in cities and for checking the border in rough areas. Bikes let agents move fast in crowded places and hard spots. They help stop illegal border crossings and other wrongdoings.
The Border Patrol also has a marine component with over 109 boats. These boats help agents control the border by water. They make sure the country’s borders are safe and watched over.
With these specialized patrols, the Border Patrol can catch, stop, and act against many security risks. These units are key to keeping America safe.
Border Patrol Apprehensions and Drug Seizures
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is key in keeping the nation’s southwest border safe. They stop illegal drugs, weapons, and other bad stuff from coming in. Over time, the Border Patrol has made the region safer and more secure.
Securing the Southwest Border
In 2012, Border Patrol agents caught over 364,000 people trying to sneak into the country. They also stopped a lot of drugs from getting across the border. That year, they found more than 5,900 pounds of cocaine and over 2.2 million pounds of marijuana.
Over the years, the number of border patrol apprehensions and drug seizures has changed. In 2023, CBP took in nearly 549,000 pounds of illegal drugs, including 27,000 pounds of fentanyl.
Even though drug seizures are down overall, fentanyl seizures have gone up. This shows the big challenge law enforcement faces in stopping these dangerous drugs and keeping the southwest border safe.
Facilitating Lawful Travel and Trade
The Border Patrol’s main goal is to stop terrorists and their weapons from entering the U.S. But, they also help with facilitating lawful international travel and trade. CBP officers and agents enforce all applicable U.S. laws. This includes stopping illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and illegal imports. They do this to keep the U.S. safe, prosperous, and economically secure.
Enforcing Laws and Protecting Revenue
CBP helps move over $3 trillion in legitimate trade every year. They enforce immigration laws and protect customs revenue. The agency checks over 67,000 cargo containers and greets almost one million visitors every day. This ensures that travel and trade across America’s borders are smooth and legal.
CBP uses a risk management approach to sort importers into high and low risk groups. This lets them focus on the most risky shipments. The agency has also set up specialized centers to improve trade and enforcement in key areas.
Acts like the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 have made CBP even better at protecting customs revenue and facilitating lawful travel and trade. By always updating its methods and working with partners, CBP keeps the U.S. secure and prosperous.
Serving with Vigilance, Integrity, and Professionalism
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) follows the values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. These values help the agency secure America’s borders. Vigilance means the agency is always alert to protect all Americans from threats.
Integrity is key for the Border Patrol. Their actions honor themselves and the agency. They serve with professionalism, commitment, and a strong dedication to the American people.
The CBP works hard to build a culture of integrity and accountability. They do this through criminal investigations, better complaint and discipline processes, and more staff for their call center. They also improve training on using force and publish monthly use of force stats online.
Collaboration and Innovation for Enhanced Security
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) knows how key border patrol collaboration and innovation are for our nation’s security. They work with other law enforcement and use new tech to keep our borders safe. This helps protect the American people.
The CBP’s Innovation Team leads this effort, starting 73 pilot projects by July 2020. These projects aim to improve how we manage our borders. They’ve put $120 million into these efforts, showing their commitment to border patrol innovation.
- The Innovation Team worked with seven groups of operators from 2019 to 2022. They got feedback on new tech to improve border operations.
- But, they faced issues moving some tech forward. 19 out of 39 completed pilot projects didn’t make it due to informal agreements.
- About one-third of the pilot projects stopped because they couldn’t find a partner to invest more in the tech.
To overcome these hurdles, the CBP set three goals for the Innovation Team. But, progress on two of these goals isn’t tracked well. The team works with groups like the Defense Innovation Unit and Silicon Valley companies. They use their skills and resources for better border security.
Through strong collaboration and new tech, the CBP is set to create a safer, more efficient way to manage our borders. This approach protects our homeland and makes sure travel and trade are lawful.
Conclusion: Safeguarding America’s Homeland
Customs and Border Protection is key to keeping America safe. It has over 60,000 hardworking people. They stop terrorists, fight crime, and keep the borders safe. They also help with travel and trade, all while being very careful and professional.
In 2023, they used about $3.634.2 million, mostly for their work and support. This shows how important they are to the country.
CBP is always finding new ways to stay ahead in border security. They work with others to keep the American people safe and prosperous. Even with challenges, they’ve made a big impact, like stopping drugs at the Southwest border.
But, they also have problems with human rights and not being accountable. This shows we need to make big changes. We need more openness, better checks, and a change in culture.
CBP is a big deal in keeping the country safe. We need to find a good balance. We should focus on keeping the borders safe, making sure travel and trade are easy, and protecting human rights. This will help keep America strong and earn back the trust of its people.