Border Security and Inspection
Border security and inspection covers how the government checks people and goods as they enter the United States. Officers of Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, inspect travelers at airports, seaports, and land crossings, and Border Patrol agents monitor the areas between those crossings. Programs that speed up screening for approved travelers also fall here.
People usually ask what officers may ask or search at the border, what happens when a package is held by customs, and how to enroll in a trusted traveler program. They also ask how border agencies share the work with other parts of the Department of Homeland Security.
An independent team explaining how government works
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
All Articles on Border Security and Inspection
C-1 Transit Visa Guide: Requirements for Passing Through the U.S.
The C-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa category for foreign nationals who must travel through the United States in "immediate and continuous transit" to…
USPS Tracking “Held in Customs”? What It Means for You
See 'Held in Customs' on your USPS tracking? Here's what it means. This status is a routine part of the international shipping process for…
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…
What the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Does
Its mission spans counterterrorism, border security, cybersecurity, disaster response, and immigration enforcement.