- About CBP
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- Leadership & Organization
- Congressional Resources
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- History
- In Memoriam
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
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- CBP Innovation Team
- Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)
- Archive
- Searching for Someone in CBP Custody
- Buscando a alguien bajo la custodia de CBP
- Se Busca Campaigns
- CBP RSS Feeds
- Environmental Management
- Mobile Apps Directory
- Contact Us
- Leadership & Organization
- Congressional Resources
- Laboratories and Scientific Services
- Intergovernmental Public Liaison
- History
- In Memoriam
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- CBP Innovation Team
- Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)
- Archive
- Searching for Someone in CBP Custody
- Buscando a alguien bajo la custodia de CBP
- Se Busca Campaigns
- CBP RSS Feeds
CBP History Through the Years
OnMarch 1, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection became the nation’s first comprehensive border security agency with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.
Before CBP, security, compliance and facilitation of international travel and trade were conducted by multiple organizations. The consolidation of these roles and responsibilities allowed CBP to develop seamless security procedures while ensuring compliance with the nation’s immigration, health, and international trade laws and regulations.
CBP Milestones
In establishing CBP, its leadership ensured that the best traditions of its legacy agencies continued from:
- 1789: U.S. Customs Service, which traced its original functions toJuly 31, 1789, and noted its role as the progenitor of numerous federal bureaus and agencies. The Customs Service closed with the dawn of CBP, but its commissioner became the leader of CBP and the majority of its staff and responsibilities came to CBP.
- 1891: Immigration inspectors, who traced their responsibilities to the establishment of the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration onMarch 3, 1891.
- 1912: Agriculture inspectors, who traced their roles to the passage of the Plant Quarantine Act onAug. 20, 1912.
- 1924: Border Patrol agents, who brought their responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the U.S. borders as they have done since Congress authorized the hiring of Border Patrol personnel onMay 28, 1924.
- 2006: In addition to this core of specialties and responsibilities present at CBP’s founding, CBP also developed an air and marine monitoring capability with the formation of its third uniformed division, the Office of Air and Marine onJan. 17, 2006.
- 2006: The Office of International Trade (OT) is established on October 15, 2006, to consolidate trade policy, program development, and compliance measurement functions into one CBP office.
The uniformed ranks are only a portion of CBP’s specialized corps. They are joined by forensic scientists, international trade specialists, public affairs officers and cadres of other specialists and employees who work together to make CBP’s processes more secure, cost effective and efficient.
Because of the work of the people of CBP, the nation’s borders and the American communities around them have never been more secure. But there is much more to be done. As CBP progresses into its second decade, the nation will see a fully integrated approach to international security, trade and travel that makes the world safer, facilitates international travel and trade, and drives the continuous improvement of CBP’s operations.
Ethos
- We are the guardians of our Nation's borders.
- We are America's front line.
- We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders.
- We protect the American people against terrorists and the instruments of terror.
- We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our Nation's economic security through lawful international trade and travel.
- We serve the American people with vigilance, integrity, and professionalism.
Core Values
- Vigilance is how we ensure the safety of all Americans. We are continuously watchful and alert to deter, detect and prevent threats to our nation. We demonstrate courage and valor in the protection of our nation.
- Service to Country is embodied in the work we do. We are dedicated to defending and upholding the Constitution of the United States. The American people have entrusted us to protect the homeland and defend liberty.
- Integrity is our cornerstone. We are guided by the highest ethical and moral principles. Our actions bring honor to ourselves and our agency.
