U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Abbreviation CBP
USA - Customs and Border Protection.png
Patch of CBP
Agency overview
Formed March 1, 2003
Preceding agencies
Employees 58,000+ (2011)
Annual budget $11.84 billion (2012)
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agency United States
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Agency executive Alan Bersin, Commissioner
Website
http://www.cbp.gov

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the largest law enforcement agency in the United States.[1][2] It has a workforce of more than 43,600 sworn federal agents and officers. It has its headquarters in Washington, D.C.[3]

While its primary mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, CBP is also responsible for apprehending individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally, stemming the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband, protecting United States agricultural and economic interests from harmful pests and diseases, and protecting American businesses from intellectual property theft.

Contents

Organization

CBP has a workforce of over 58,000 employees, including officers and agents, agriculture specialists, aircraft pilots, trade specialists, mission support staff, and canine enforcement officers and agents.

  • More than 21,180 CBP Officers screen passengers and cargo at over 300 ports of entry.
  • Over 2,200 CBP Agriculture Specialists work to curtail the spread of harmful pests and plant and animal diseases that may harm America’s farms and food supply or cause bio- and agro-terrorism.
  • Over 21,370 Border Patrol Agents protect 1,900 miles (3,100 km) of border with Mexico and 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of border with Canada.
  • Nearly 1,050 Air and Marine Interdiction Agents prevent people, weapons, narcotics, and conveyances from illegal entry by air and water.
  • Nearly 2,500 employees in CBP revenue positions collect over $30 billion annually in entry duties and taxes through the enforcement of trade and tariff laws. These collections provide the second largest revenue for the U.S. Government. In addition, these employees fulfill the agency’s trade mission by appraising and classifying imported merchandise. These employees serve in positions such as import specialist, auditor, international trade specialist, and textile analyst.
  • The CBP Canine Enforcement Program conducts the largest number of working dogs of any U.S. federal law enforcement agency. K-9 teams are assigned to 73 commercial ports and 74 Border Patrol stations throughout the nation.[4][5]

There are 327 officially designated ports of entry and an additional 14 pre-clearance locations[6] in Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean. CBP is also in charge of the Container Security Initiative, which identifies and inspects foreign cargo in its mother country before it is to be imported into the United States.

The major "offices" operating under CBP are:

  • The Office of Field Operations (OFO); headed by Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski.
  • The Office of Border Patrol (OBP); headed by Chief Michael J. Fisher.
  • The Office of Air & Marine (OAM); headed by Assistant Commissioner Michael C. Kostelnik.
  • The Office of International Trade (OT); headed by Assistant Commissioner Allen Gina.
  • The Office of Information and Technology (OIT); headed by Assistant Commissioner Charles Armstrong.
  • The Office of Administration (OA); formerly the Office of Finance; headed by Assistant Commissioner Eugene Schied.
  • The Office of Training and Development (OTD); headed by Assistant Commissioner Patricia M. Duffy.
  • The Office of Internal Affairs (IA); headed by Assistant Commissioner James Tomsheck.
  • The Office of Intelligence and Investigative Liaison (OIIL); headed by Assistant Commissioner Donna Bucella. Established in July 2011, following a re-organization of the Office of Intelligence & Operations Coordination (OIOC) from the merger of the former Offices of Intelligence and Anti-Terrorism in July 2007.

CBP assess all passengers flying into the U.S. for terrorist risk via Joint Terrorism Task Force and systems such as Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology US-VISIT, and the Student and Exchange Visitor System SEVIS. CBP also works with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to screen high-risk imported food shipments in order to prevent bio-terrorism/agro-terrorism.

Through the Container Security Initiative, CBP works jointly with host nation counterparts to identify and screen containers that pose a risk at the foreign port of departure before they are loaded on board vessels bound for the U.S. CSI is implemented in 20 of the largest ports in terms of container shipments to the U.S., and at a total of 58 ports worldwide.

The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection program allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers from Mexico to be processed through dedicated lanes. NEXUS is a similar program on the country's northern border with Canada. Along both borders, CBP has implemented the Free and Secure Trade, which utilizes transponder technology and pre-arrival shipment information to process participating trucks as they arrive at the border. An agreement with Canada allows CBP to target, screen, and examine rail shipments headed to the U.S.

Enforcement Powers

CBP has the authority to search outbound and inbound shipments, and uses targeting to carry out its mission in this area. Under Section 596 of the Tariff Act, CBP is required to seize and forfeit all merchandise that is stolen, smuggled, or clandestinely imported or introduced.[7] CBP is also required to seize and forfeit controlled substances, certain contraband articles, and plastic explosives that do not contain a detection agent. In conjunction with the Department of State and the Bureau of the Census, CBP has put in place regulations that require submission of electronic export information on U.S. Munitions List and for technology for the Commerce Control List. CBP uses advance information from the Automated Targeting System and the Automated Export System to identify cargo that may pose a threat. CBP also works with the Departments of State and Defense to improve procedures on exported shipments of foreign military sales commodities.

Merchandise may also be seized and forfeited if:

  • Its importation is restricted or prohibited because of a law relating to health, safety or conservation;
  • The merchandise is lacking a federal license required for the importation;
  • The merchandise or packaging is in violation of copyright, trademark, trade name, or trade dress protections;
  • The merchandise is intentionally or repetitively marked in violation of country of origin marking requirements; or
  • The imported merchandise is subject to quantitative restrictions requiring a visa or similar document from a foreign government, and the document presented with the entry is counterfeit.

Civil Penalties

Section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1930 is the basic and most widely used customs penalty provision for the importation of goods. It prescribes monetary penalties against any person who imports, attempts to import, or aids or procures the importation of merchandise by means of false or fraudulent documents, statements, omissions or practices, concerning any material fact. Penalties may be applied even in situations where there is no loss of revenue.

Section 592 infractions are divided into three categories of culpability, each giving rise to a different maximum penalty:

  • Fraud, an act or omission done intentionally to defraud the United States Department of Revenue. The maximum civil penalty for a violation is the domestic value of the merchandise in the entry or entries concerned.
  • Gross negligence, an act or omission with actual knowledge of, or wanton disregard for, the relevant facts and a disregard of section 592 obligations. The maximum civil penalty is the lesser of the domestic value of the merchandise or four times the loss of revenue (actual or potential). IF the infraction does not affect revenue, the maximum penalty is 40% of the dutiable value of the good.
  • Negligence, involving a failure to exercise due care in ascertaining the material facts or in ascertaining the obligations under section 592. The maximum civil penalties are the same for gross negligence, except the lesser of twice the domestic value of the merchandise or twice the loss of revenue is used. The penalty cannot exceed 20% of the dutiable value.

The Customs Modernization Act amended section 592 to apply existing penalties for false information to information transmitted electronically and allows Customs to recover unpaid taxes and fees resulting from 592 violations. It also introduced the requirement that importers use "reasonable care" in making entry and providing the initial classification and appraisement, establishing a "shared responsibility" between Customs and importers, thus allowing Customs to rely on the accuracy of the information submitted and streamline entry procedures. To the extent that an importer fails to use reasonable care, Customs may impose a penalty under section 592.

Criminal Penalties

In addition to the civil penalties, a criminal fraud statute provides for sanctions to those presenting false information to customs officers.[8] Section 542 provides a maximum of 2 years imprisonment, or a $5,000 fine, or both, for each violation involving an importation or attempted importation.

History

U.S. Customs Service

Responding to an urgent need for revenue following the American Revolutionary War, the First United States Congress passed, and President George Washington, signed the Tariff Act of July 4, 1789, which authorized the collection of duties on imported goods. Four weeks later, on July 31, the fifth act of Congress established the United States Customs Service and its ports of entry.

For nearly 125 years, the U.S. Customs Service was the primary source of governmental funds, which paid for the nation's early growth and infrastructure.[9] Purchases include the Louisiana and Oregon territories; Florida, Alaska, and Washington, D.C.; funding the National Road and the Transcontinental Railroad; building many of the United States' lighthouses; and the U.S. Military and Naval academies.

In March, 2003, the Customs Service was dissolved to form part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Immigration inspectors, circa 1924

Shortly after the American Civil War, some states started to pass their own immigration laws, which prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in 1875 that immigration was a federal responsibility.[citation needed] The Immigration Act of 1891 established an Office of the Superintendent of Immigration within the United States Department of the Treasury. This office was responsible for admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the United States and for implementing national immigration policy. "Immigrant inspectors", as they were called then, were stationed at major U.S. ports of entry collecting manifests of arriving passengers. A "head tax" of fifty cents was collected on each immigrant.

In the early 20th century Congress's primary interest in immigration was protecting American workers and wages – the reason it had become a federal concern in the first place. This made immigration more a matter of commerce than revenue; hence, in 1903, Congress transferred the Bureau of Immigration to the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor.

After World War I, Congress attempted to stem the flow of immigrants, still mainly coming from Europe, by passing laws in 1921 and 1924 limiting the number of newcomers by assigning a quota to each nationality based upon its representation in previous U.S. census figures. Each year, the U.S. State Department issued a limited number of visas; only those immigrants who had obtained them and could present valid visas were permitted entry.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the Immigration and Naturalization Service from the Department of Labor to the Department of Justice in 1940.

Reorganization (2003 to present)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers

CBP became an official agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, combining employees from the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (specifically, immigration inspectors and the United States Border Patrol), and the United States Customs Service. This transformation was led by former Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.

W. Ralph Basham was nominated to the post of Commissioner by President George W. Bush on January 30, 2006.[citation needed] Basham had 28 years of experience as a law enforcement manager, including serving as the head of the Secret Service and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He had also served as the chief of staff for the Transportation Security Administration. It is the largest federal law enforcement agency that works closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

CBP is currently headed by Commissioner Alan Bersin who was placed by President Barack Obama on March 27, 2010 as a recess appointment. Bersin formerly served as the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, informally known as the "Border Czar".

Personnel

CBP Officers (OFO)

CBP Officers badge
CBP – Office of Field Operations Shoulder Patch
Officers boarding a ship.

CBP officers[10] are federal law enforcement officers empowered to exercise the authority and perform the duties provided by law and Department of Homeland Security regulations, including making arrests, conducting searches, making seizures, bearing firearms, and serving any order or warrant. CBP officers defend against terrorist intrusion by identifying high risk individuals who are attempting to enter into the United States; stop criminal activities – such as drug trafficking, child pornography (including on computers, cell phones, and other electronic media), weapons trafficking, and money laundering – by inspecting vehicles and trucks; and prevent the illegal entry of individuals, the smuggling of prohibited goods, and other customs and immigration violations. Officers are armed with Heckler & Koch P2000 pistols chambered in .40 S&W, expandable batons, and oleoresin capsicum pepper spray. In accordance with Public Law 110-161, CBP officers are covered under special law enforcement retirement, and all candidates must be referred for selection for this position before reaching their 37th birthday.

Officer candidates attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in Glynco, Georgia for 20 weeks of paid training. Candidate training consists of basic law enforcement skills, including Anti-Terrorism; Detection of Contraband; Interviewing; Cross-cultural Communications; Firearms Handling and Qualification; Immigration and Naturalization Laws; U.S. Customs Export and Import laws, Defensive Tactics; Arrest Techniques; Baton Techniques; Examination of Cargo; Bags and Merchandise; Border Search Exception; Entry and Control Procedures; Passenger Processing; and Officer Safety and Survival. Those candidates selected for duty locations requiring Spanish may receive an additional 6 weeks of Spanish Language training. Officers who additionally serve on CBP's Special Response Team are trained for an additional six weeks with the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Unit in Artesia, New Mexico. For more information on training, download FLETC Training PDF[11] and reference the specific program title of Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Integrated Training Program (BCBPI).

CBP Officers may begin their careers in any region for which they apply. The duty region is selected during the application phase, and generally cannot be changed once selected. Proficiency in Spanish is a duty requirement only for those stationed along southern border regions, although it is not a requirement before being hired. CBP Officers stationed along southern border regions will undergo Spanish language training before coming on duty.

The CBP Officer position is categorized as a "critical-sensitive" position in law enforcement. For this reason, officer candidates must undergo a single scope background investigation before being appointed. In addition, officer candidates must undergo drug and medical examination, polygraph examination, physical fitness test, and video based interview during the pre-appointment phase.[12]

CBP Officer (OFO) Ranks and Insignia

Title Collar insignia Pay grade
Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations (AC)
US-O10 insignia.svg
SES
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations (DAC)
US-O9 insignia.svg
SES
Director, Field Operations (DFO)
US-O8 insignia.svg
SES
Area Port Director (PD)
US-O7 insignia.svg
GS-15
Assistant Port Director (APD)

Watch Commander(WC)

US-O6 insignia.svg
GS-14
CBP Chief Officer (CCBPO)
US-O5 insignia.svg
GS-13
CBP Supervisory Officer (SCBPO)
US-O4 insignia.svg
GS-13
CBP K-9 Lead Officer (CBPO-Canine)
US-O3 insignia.svg
GS-12
CBP Officer Enforcement or CBP Officer Intelligence

(CBPOE) or (CBPOI)

US-OF1A.svg
GS-12
CBP Officer (CBPO) (Journeyman)
US Customs and Border Protection - CBPO.png
GS-11, GS-12
CBP Officer (CBPO)
GS-9.jpg
GS-9
CBP Officer (CBPO)
GS-5-7.jpg
GS-5, GS-7

Agriculture Specialists (OFO)

Ag Specialist badge
Ag Specialists doing lab work.
Border Patrol Agent badge
Border Patrol Agent reading the Miranda Rights to a suspect.

CBP Agriculture Specialists[13] receive 8–12 weeks of paid training at the Professional Development Center in Frederick, Maryland. Agriculture Specialists are stationed at international ports of entry located at airports, seaports, and land borders throughout the U.S. and along the Canadian and Mexican borders. They are uniformed federal employees with the authority to conduct random inspections of luggage or items entering the country and the power to seize prohibited or contaminated items. Agricultural Specialists can also issue fines in accordance with the federal laws. They also serve as expert and technical consultants in the areas of inspection, intelligence, analysis, examination and law enforcement activities related to the importation of agricultural/commercial commodities and conveyances at the various ports of entry. Agriculture Specialists apply a wide range of federal, state and local laws and agency regulations when determining the admissibility of agriculture commodities while preventing the introduction of harmful pests, diseases and potential agro-terrorism into the United States. They participate in special enforcement, targeting or analysis teams charged with collecting and analyzing information and identifying high-risk targets; or conduct visual and physical inspections of cargo, conveyances or passenger baggage. The Agriculture Specialist plans, conducts, and supervises remedial actions such as treating, disinfecting and decontaminating prohibited commodities, conveyances, contaminants or agricultural materials.[14][15]

The Agriculture Specialist position is categorized as a "sensitive" position in law enforcement and may be granted up to the "Secret" level security clearance. Candidates must undergo a single scope background investigation before being appointed. In addition, the candidates must undergo drug and medical examinations and a video based interview during the pre-appointment phase.

Border Patrol Agents (OBP)

Border Patrol Agents[16] actively patrol the borders to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. Agents detect and prevent the smuggling and unlawful entry of aliens into the United States, along with apprehending those people found to be in violation of immigration laws. Agents work to lower crimes and improve the quality of life in border communities. In some areas Agents are deputized or have peace-officer status and use it to enforce local and state/territory laws.

One of the most important activities for a Border Patrol Agent is "line watch". This involves the detection, prevention and apprehension of terrorists, illegal aliens and smugglers of both aliens and contraband at or near the land border by maintaining surveillance from a covert position, following up leads, responding to electronic sensor television systems, aircraft sightings, and interpreting and following tracks, marks and other physical evidence. Some of the major activities are farm and ranch check, traffic check, traffic observation, city patrol, transportation check, administrative, intelligence, and anti-smuggling activities.

All agents complete a 55-day paid "Basic Academy" training at the "U.S. Border Patrol Academy" in Artesia, New Mexico. Training includes such topics as immigration and nationality laws, physical training (PT), weapons and marksmanship. For those needing Spanish language instruction, an additional 40 days may be required beyond the 55 days of Basic Academy training. Border Patrol Agents must be willing to work overtime and varying shifts under arduous conditions, and be proficient in the carry and use of firearms. They may also be sent on temporary assignments on short notice, or on permanent reassignments to any duty location. All new agents begin their careers along the Southwest border, where a working knowledge of Spanish is required.[16][17]

Border Patrol (OBP) Ranks and Insignia

Location Title Collar insignia Shoulder ornament Pay grade
Border Patrol Headquarters Chief of the Border Patrol
US-O10 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
Senior Executive Service (SES)
Deputy Chief of the Border Patrol
US-O9 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
SES
Division Chief
US-O8 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
SES
Deputy Division Chief
US-O7 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
GS-15, General Schedule
Associate Chief
US-O7 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
GS-15
Assistant Chief
US-O6 insignia.svg
Silver-plated
GS-14
Operations Officer
US-O5 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Border Patrol Sectors Chief Patrol Agent (CPA)
US-O8 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
SES or GS-15
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA)
US-O7 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
SES/GS-15 or GS-14
Division Chief
US-O7 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
GS-15
Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA)
US-O6 insignia.svg
Silver-plated
GS-15 or GS-14
Patrol Agent in Charge (PAIC)
US-O5 insignia.svg
Silver-plated
GS-14 or GS-13
Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge (APAIC)
US-O5 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Special Operations Supervisor (SOS)
US-O4 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Field Operations Supervisor (FOS)
US-O4 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (SBPA)
US-O3 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Border Patrol Agent (BPA)
Blank.jpg
No insignia
GL-5, 7, 9, GS-11, 12
Border Patrol Academy Chief Patrol Agent (CPA)
US-O8 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
GS-15
Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA)
US-O7 insignia.svg
Gold-plated
GS-15
Assistant Chief Patrol Agent (ACPA)
US-O6 insignia.svg
Silver-plated
GS-14
Training Operations Supervisor (TOS)
US-O5 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-14
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Senior Instructor)
US-O4 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent (Instructor)
US-O3 insignia.svg
Oxidized
GS-13

Border Patrol Shoulder Ornaments

USBPShoulder.JPG


Air and Marine Interdiction Agents (OAM)

Air Interdiction Agents[18]

Marine Interdiction Agents[19]

Employee morale

CBP officers at a ceremony

In July 2006, the Office of Personnel Management conducted a survey of federal employees in all 36 federal agencies on job satisfaction and how they felt their respective agency was headed. DHS (which includes CBP) was last or near to last in every category including;

  • 36th on the job satisfaction index
  • 35th on the leadership and knowledge management index
  • 36th on the results-oriented performance culture index
  • 33rd on the talent management index

The low scores were attributed to major concerns about basic supervision, management and leadership within DHS. Based on the survey, the primary concerns are about promotion and pay increase based on merit, dealing with poor performance, rewarding creativity and innovation, and the inability of leadership to generate high levels of motivation in the workforce, recognition for doing a good job, lack of satisfaction with various component policies and procedures and lack of information about what is going on with the organization and complaints from the traveling public.[20][21]

In June 2007, CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham announced to employees that the agency would be conducting 125 different focus groups in 12 different cities around the country to better understand their concerns as expressed in the Human Capital Survey. The agency is also going to give employees who are not a part of that focus group process an intranet virtual focus group where they can express their views and their concerns. The commissioner stated: "We are looking at this very seriously. We want to hear from the employees, we want to hear from these focus groups, we want to drill down on this survey." As 2011, more than four years after this statement was made, these focus groups have never been reported to have been held, nor have any plans been reported for them to be held in the future.

A November 2007 Government Accountability Office report showed that low staffing, training, and overwork is a large problem within CBP, and an average of 71 officers leave the service every two weeks.[22]

Equipment

Vehicle Country of Manufacture Type Notes Picture
Dodge Durango  United States K-9 98-03 Dodge Durango.jpg
Ford Crown Victoria  Canada Cruiser BordercheckpointCA.jpg
Ford Freestyle/Taurus X  United States cruiser 08 Ford Taurus X Limited.jpg
Jeep TJ  United States Utility vehicle CBP-Dragging.jpg
Chevrolet Tahoe / Chevrolet S-10 Blazer  United States Sport utility vehicle Border Patrol in Montana.jpg
AM General Hummer  United States SUV Hummer H1.jpg
Dodge Ram  United States Pickup truck Border Patrol Dodge Ram.jpg
Ford F-series  United States Pickup truck Border Patrol Ford F-250 Super Cab.jpg
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra  United States Pickup truck 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.jpg
Dodge Ram Van  United States Van Dodge-Ram-Van.jpg
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse  United States helicopter BorderPatrolChopper.jpg
MD Helicopters MD 600  United States Helicopter 600nrgv 5f1 5f360.jpg
Eurocopter AS350  France Light utility helicopter FEMA - 38886 - Pilots prepare for an aerial tour in Texas.jpg
Bell Helicopters UH-1 Huey  United States Helicopter USCBP Huey.jpeg
UH-60 Blackhawk  United States Heavy utility helicopter CBP UH-60 Blackhawk.jpg
Beechcraft Super King Air  United States Fixed-wing aircraft Beechcraft b200 superkingair zk453 arp.jpg
Lockheed P-3 Orion - P-3AEW&C variant  United States Airborne early warning and control CBP P-3 Orion.jpg
Elbit Hermes 450  Israel UAV Hermes 450.jpg
MQ-9 Reaper  United States UAV MQ-9 Reaper CBP.jpg
Safe Boat International Walk Around Cabin / Safe Boat International RB-S "Defender" Class  United States marine craft USCBP RB-S Defender.jpeg

Criticism

National Public Radio's Morning Edition reported that CBP radiation-detection equipment at ports is better at detecting kitty litter than dangerous weapons, and that U.S. borders are so porous that congressional investigators carrying simulated nuclear materials have walked across unchallenged.[23]

In an article entitled "DHS Decision-Making: Competence or Character?", James Giermanski states that the fundamental problem within CBP is that the agency has weak and sometimes flawed management. He says that DHS and CBP suffer from "seriously flawed decision-making", citing the "door only" policy, radio frequency identification technology, and lack of focus on exports which contain bombs.[24]

The agency's practice of performing internal document checks on buses and trains running entirely within U.S. territory has been called "coercive, unconstitutional, and tainted by racial profiling". [25]

The United States Court of International Trade found that CBP improperly classified merchandise when it had untrained chemists testifying before the court. The court found that there were errors in the laboratory reports, that CBP destroyed the evidence, and the tests used by the chemist did not meet any Daubert Factors.[26]

During a federal court case for unlawful removal,[citation needed] CBP and United States Department of Justice attorneys cited the U.S. Supreme Court case of Garcetti v. Ceballos (04-473), which ruled that CBP employees do not have protection from retaliation by CBP managers under the First Amendment of the Constitution. The free speech protections of the First Amendment have long been used to shield whistleblowers from retaliation. In response to the Supreme Court decision of Garcetti v. Ceballos, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 985, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2007, and the Senate passed its version of the Whistleblower Protection Act (S. 274), which has significant bipartisan support.

Some in Congress, such as Senator Susan Collins (R-ME),[27] have argued that the combined infrastructures of ICE, CIS and CBP should be merged into one agency called U.S. Border Enforcement Administration(BEA) followed by seven major offices: Office of Investigations, Office of Border Patrol, Office of Air and Marine Patrol, Office of Field Operations, Office of Agriculture, Office of Immigration Adjudications, and Office of Deportation and Removal.

Canadian author and marine biologist Peter Watts accused customs officers of assaulting him and throwing him in jail for the night of December 1st, 2009 when he was returning to Toronto from the U.S.[28]

See also the criticisms against the United States Border Patrol, a federal law enforcement agency within CBP.

See also

Portal icon Government of the United States portal
Portal icon Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal

References

  1. ^ "This is CBP." U.S. Customs and Border Protection. December 11, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  2. ^ "CBP Statistics as of Fiscal Year 2009." U.S. Customs and Border Protection. February 16, 2010. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "CBP Headquarters." U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved on June 19, 2010.
  4. ^ U.S. Customs and Border Protection Canine Enforcement Program
  5. ^ Mission, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Canine Enforcement Program
  6. ^ "Preclearance Locations". CBP.gov. 2009-07-28. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/preclear_locations.xml. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  7. ^ 19 U.S.C. 1595a(c)
  8. ^ 18 U.S.C. 542
  9. ^ History of the U.S. Customs Service
  10. ^ "CBP – Career Descriptions". Cbp.gov. 2009-07-01. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/officer/. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  11. ^ FLETC.gov
  12. ^ CBP.gov
  13. ^ "CBP – Career Descriptions". Cbp.gov. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/agri_specialist/. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  14. ^ CBP.gov
  15. ^ CBP.gov
  16. ^ a b "CBP – Career Descriptions". Cbp.gov. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/bp_agent/. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  17. ^ "The Border Patrol Agent Hiring Process". CBP.gov. 2005-09-28. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/application_process/bpa_hire_proces.xml. Retrieved 2010-02-28. 
  18. ^ CBP.gov
  19. ^ Nemo.cbp.gov
  20. ^ ABC7chicago.com: Homeland Security employees rank last in job satisfaction survey 2/08/07
  21. ^ DHS memo reveals agency personnel are treated like "human capital"
  22. ^ Barr, Stephen (2007-11-14). "One Tired, Under-Trained, Overworked Face at the Border". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/13/AR2007111302007.html. Retrieved 2010-05-26. 
  23. ^ National Public Radio - Morning Edition 1/14/2008 DHS Still Dogged by Questions over Effectiveness.
  24. ^ DHS Decision-Making: Competence or Character?
  25. ^ Bernstein, Nina. "Border Sweeps in North Reach Miles Into U.S.". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. http://www.webcitation.org/62wGv5wrS. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  26. ^ THOM S. ZANI D/B/A WHOLESALE ART & FRAME LTD., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, defendant.
  27. ^ "Merger of ICE, CBP considered". The Washington Times. February 16, 2005. http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/feb/16/20050216-123422-2436r/. Retrieved 2008-07-31. 
  28. ^ Doctorow, Cory. "Dr Peter Watts, Canadian science fiction writer, beaten and arrested at US border". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. http://www.webcitation.org/62wKn9PfS. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Customs and Border Protection — (CBP) Formerly referred to as the Border Patrol, this is now an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). One of its responsibilities is to keep the U.S. borders secure from people crossing illegally. Another one is to meet… …   Law dictionary

  • Customs and Border Protection — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Staatliche Ebene Bundesbehörde der Vereinigten Staaten (Agency of the United States government) Stellung der Behörde Bundespolizeibehörde der Vereinigten Staaten als Specialist law enforcement agency of the… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Staatliche Ebene Bundesbehörde der Vereinigten Staaten (Agency of the United States government) Stellung der Behörde Bundespolizeibehörde der Vereinigten Staaten als Specialist law enforcement agency of the United States …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • United States Customs and Border Protection — U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Staatliche Ebene Bundesbehörde der Vereinigten Staaten (Agency of the United States government) Stellung der Behörde Bundespolizeibehörde der Vereinigten Staaten a …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • United States Customs and Border Protection — Emblème du CBP Le Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) connu sous le nom d United States Customs and Border Protection (littéralement Bureau de la protection des frontières et des douanes), est une agence du département de la Sécurité… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • US Customs and Border Protection — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Staatliche Ebene Bundesbehörde der Vereinigten Staaten (Agency of the United States government) Stellung der Behörde Bundespolizeibehörde der Vereinigten Staaten als Specialist law enforcement agency of the… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Customs and Excise Department (Hong Kong) — Customs and Excise Department 香港海關 heung1gong2 hoi2gwaan1 Agency overview Formed 1909 …   Wikipedia

  • United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security — The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee.Jurisdiction Jurisdiction: (1) Immigration, citizenship, and refugee laws; (2) Oversight of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Border Protection Command (Australia) — The Australian Government s Border Protection Command (BPC) is a multi agency command which was established in 2005 to coordinate the protection of Australia’s offshore assets. The Command is constituted by elements of the Australian Customs… …   Wikipedia

  • Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 — The Border Protection, Anti terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (USBill|109|H.R.|4437) was a bill in the 109th United States Congress. It was passed by the United States House of Representatives on December 16, 2005 by a vote… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”