Customs and Border Protection

America has always been a nation of immigrants. In addition to the approximately 1 million immigrants who enter the United States legally each year, millions more enter without documentation or overstay their visas. It is the job of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to help hard working immigrants in search of a better life to enter the U.S. legally while keeping out terrorists and other foreign nationals who would seek to harm the nation. CBP, which operates under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations with more than 60,000 employees. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while helping lawful international travel and trade. The men and women of CBP are responsible for enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations. On a typical day, CBP welcomes nearly 1 million visitors, screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1,100 individuals, and seizes nearly 6 tons of Illicit drugs. This book provides an in-depth look at Customs and Border Protection and the important role it plays in keeping America a safe and strong nation of immigrants.