Customs and Border Protection
Customs and Border Protection is the Department of Homeland Security agency that manages the nation's borders and ports of entry. Its officers and agents inspect travelers and cargo, enforce trade and immigration laws, guard against smuggling, and collect tariffs and duties on imports. It includes the Border Patrol.
People usually bring questions about what happens at the border and what travelers may carry. Others ask how trusted-traveler programs work, how tariffs are collected, and how drug smuggling is stopped.
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All Articles on Customs and Border Protection
How Border Agents Fight Fentanyl Smuggling
The United States is in the grip of one of the most severe public health and national security crises in its history, driven by…
So Where Does Tariff Money Go?
When a cargo ship laden with electronics from Asia, automobiles from Europe, or fresh produce from Mexico arrives at a U.S. port, a complex…
What’s the Difference Between a Tariff and a Tax?
At first glance, the relationship between a tariff and a tax seems simple: a tariff is a type of tax. While this is technically…
What Are Tariffs and How Do They Work?
A tariff is a tax that governments place on goods coming into their country. You might also hear them called duties or customs duties—trade…
Understanding the Trusted Traveler Program
The frustration of long lines at airport security and tedious customs processes after international flights are common travel headaches. These delays add significant stress…
Traveling with an Expired U.S. Passport: Is It Possible?
U.S. passport rules can be confusing, especially regarding expired documents. The answer depends on your destination, transportation mode, and whether your travel is international…