Customs and Border Protection Officers
Customs and border protection officers investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from their countries or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.
Customs and border protection officers' job descriptions include enforcing immigration, trade and customs laws, inspecting the merchandise, luggage, and people coming in or going out of the country, intercepting drugs, weapons, and other illegal goods, and stopping people from trying to illegally enter the country. The job also includes spotting and apprehending suspected human trafficking victims being smuggled across the border.
Customs and border patrol officers are the first line of defence for border security and counterterrorism efforts. They are associated with inspection of cargo, people, and luggage and detaining and interviewing suspects. Besides, they report to their commanding officer and perform inspections. They normally work on the special response team.
Border patrol officers often use firearms and baggage X-ray machines in their day-to-day job duties.
How to become a customs officer? The candidate needs to have a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or criminal justice and relevant work experience for entry-level border patrol jobs. They undergo rigorous training involving learning about anti-terrorism tactics, passenger processing, firearms training, and arrest techniques before being commissioned.
To be eligible for a customer officer salary, one must-have skills such as having a strong mental fortitude, strong instincts, and paying close attention to detail. Candidates possess skills and qualifications in the background investigation, sound judgment, interpersonal communication and foreign language.
A successful customs and border patrol officer has a passion for the law, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to read people.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- B.Tech Mechanical Engineering
- B.E. Mechanical Engineering
Tasks
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
- Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
- Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
- Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
- Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
Progression Routes
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