Whether you are dealing with an immigration issue connected to the USCIS, or your issue concerns U.S. Customs & Border Control, we are here to help.

The United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency which is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DOHS). Primarily, the CBP is tasked with the regulation and facilitation of international trade; the collection of import duties; and the enforcement of U.S. regulations, among which include immigration, trade, and customs.

As the largest law enforcement agency in the U.S., CBP is comprised of more than 45,000 sworn federal agents, many of whose primary mission is to prevent terrorism, i.e. to prevent terrorists and / or terrorist weapons from entering the U.S. Fighting terrorism, however, is only one of CBP’s primary responsibilities. In addition, the federal agency is also responsible for apprehending individuals who attempt to enter the U.S. illegally.

How can CBP affect me?

While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for the administrative aspects of all immigration-related matters, CBP is responsible for regulating the physical entrance of an immigrant into the U.S. Whether or not an immigrant is permitted to enter the U.S. will depend on if he or she presents any sort of terrorist threat. Therefore, it is important to understand what circumstances could place you under suspicion, ultimately detracting from your ability to successfully immigrate to the United States.

Individuals who stand to be apprehended by CBP include anyone who attempts to enter the country through illegal means. Among these individuals are persons who are connected to the regular flow of illegal drugs or any other type of contraband; persons with a criminal record; persons who pose a threat of harming U.S. agricultural and economic interests, i.e. persons who carry harmful pests or disease; persons who are believed to be connected to intellectual property theft which could in turn harm American businesses.

How the CBP Could Be Involved During Your Immigration

In order to fulfill its priority mission of keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the United States, the CBP is charged with three major tasks: border security, trade, and travel.

Border Security

On land, sea , and air, CBP can be found protecting America’s borders. At ports of entry, all foreign visitors to the country can expect to be screened by a CBP officer.
Trade

Trade to and from the U.S. is facilitated by CBP. The two primary purposes of CBP in this area are to ensure that trade is secured from acts of terrorism and to ensure that goods which arrive in the U.S. are safe and have the appropriate duties and fees paid.

Travel
In the last year alone, CBP welcomed more than 300 million foreign nationals into the U.S. All travelers are held under the jurisdiction of CBP, including U.S. travelers, visitors, legal permanent residents, and immigrants.

Depending on what type of immigration matter you are attempting to complete will determine how heavily CBP will be involved in your case. Given that the federal government agency is involved in both border security and travel, almost ensures that you will be made to interface with the agency at one point or another.

Take, for example, the fact that CBP Officers are stationed at ports of entry throughout the U.S. This fact alone ensures that foreign nationals who immigrate to the country will be subject to inspection and examination of their person and their cargo. Accordingly, immigrants to the U.S. need to be adequately prepared for the investigations that they will be subjected to upon entering the country.

Work with a New York Immigration Attorney from Pozo Goldstein, LLP

No matter what type of immigration matter you are dealing with, from issues with your citizenship to questions specific to families, our team of New York City immigration lawyers is here to help. Collectively, we have spent the last half century working in the legal field and our team is comprised of former immigration prosecutors and a former U.S. judge. With our experience backing every effort that is made on behalf of the clients that we represent, we feel confident in our ability to help those who seek our law firm for help.

For more than 90 years, we have dedicated ourselves to the law, and we are fully prepared to do the same for you. Our legal services are offered in multiple languages, and at reasonable fees to accommodate your needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact a New York immigration attorney from our firm to learn more.