U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, is the largest federal law enforcement agency in the country, operating under the Department of Homeland Security. Created on March 1, 2003, from the merger of the U.S. Customs Service, parts of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Border Patrol, it was the biggest government reorganization since the Department of Defense was formed. CBP's mission is to secure America's borders while facilitating lawful trade and travel, a balancing act that involves processing over $3 trillion in trade and screening more than 1 billion travelers each year at 328 ports of entry.

The agency's workforce of over 45,000 officers and agents includes the U.S. Border Patrol, which patrols 6,000 miles of land borders, and Air and Marine Operations, which covers coastal waters. CBP also runs trusted traveler programs like Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, which let pre-vetted travelers skip long lines. Its technology arsenal includes biometric facial recognition, drones, and advanced cargo scanners, all aimed at speeding up inspections while catching contraband, counterfeit goods, and people trying to enter illegally.

CBP has been at the center of heated political debates, especially around immigration enforcement. The 2018 family separation policy, the construction of the border wall, and ongoing concerns about racial profiling and medical care in custody have drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups. More recently, the agency launched the CBP One app to manage asylum appointments, processing over 800,000 migrants by early 2025, though it faced complaints about technical glitches. Despite the controversies, CBP remains a critical part of U.S. border security, with a FY2025 budget request of $22.1 billion and annual tariff collections of $80 to $100 billion.[edit]