U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It is responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs, and immigration laws.

History

CBP was established in 2003 as part of the Department of Homeland Security in response to the September 11 attacks. It combined several legacy agencies, including the United States Customs Service, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the United States Border Patrol.

Mission

The primary mission of CBP is to safeguard America's borders, thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the nation's global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.

Organization

CBP is headed by a Commissioner, who is appointed by the President of the United States. The agency is divided into several offices and divisions, including:

• Office of Field Operations (OFO)
• United States Border Patrol (USBP)
• Air and Marine Operations (AMO)
• Office of Trade

Responsibilities

CBP's responsibilities include:

• Border Security: Preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.
• Trade Compliance: Ensuring that all goods entering and exiting the U.S. comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Immigration Enforcement: Enforcing immigration laws at and between ports of entry.
• Agriculture Protection: Preventing the introduction of harmful pests and diseases into the U.S. agriculture system.

Programs and Initiatives

CBP operates several programs and initiatives to fulfill its mission, including:

• Global Entry
• NEXUS
• SENTRI
• C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)
• Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)

Challenges

CBP faces numerous challenges, including managing the vast and diverse U.S. border, balancing security with the facilitation of legitimate trade and travel, and addressing the evolving tactics of smugglers and traffickers.

See also

• United States Department of Homeland Security
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Transportation Security Administration
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers