Customs & Border Protection
Customs & Border Protection
To keep your home safe. We are the guardians of our Nation's borders. We are America's frontline.
Our core values are Vigilance, Service, Honor, and Integrity. Customs and Border Protection is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.
As the United States' first unified border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.
We are a highly trained and professional workforce, leveraging cutting-edge technology and intelligence to anticipate and respond to emerging threats. Whether on land, at sea, or in the air, the CBP remains ever vigilant, ensuring that the homeland remains secure for generations to come.
The history of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a story of evolution, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of national security. From the early days of mounted watchmen to the high-tech unified force of today, our mission has remained unchanged: to protect the American people and the American economy.
The Labor Appropriation Act of 1924 officially established the U.S. Border Patrol. Initially focused on the Southern and Northern borders, these early officers were the first line of defense against illegal crossings and contraband smuggling.
In response to rising global threats and high-risk tactical needs, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) was formed. This elite unit began providing specialized response capabilities both domestically and abroad.
Following the events of 9/11, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection was created as the nation's first comprehensive border security agency, merging the functions of the Border Patrol, Customs, and Immigration into a single unified command under the DHS.
Today, the CBP is a world leader in law enforcement technology, utilizing advanced drones, sensor arrays, and specialized intelligence units like the GDE and ATF Task Force to secure our borders in an ever-changing global landscape.