Issue link: https://let.epubxp.com/i/473011
PATROLLING BORDERS, PORTS AND AIR P ublic Affairs Officer Michael Milne has worked for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for 37 years. Stationed in Seattle, Milne says he has seen a seismic change at the agency post 9/11, when it not only started beefing up its enforcement division, but also reorganized under the Department of Homeland Security. One thing, how- ever, has never changed. "We have always historically had a good working relationship with Canada's border enforcement agency, the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), and that country's other law enforcement agencies," Milne says. And that's a good thing because the job faced by both countries is enormous and many of their problems are shared. With 328 ports of entry and thou- sands of miles of border to protect, it's fair to say that CBP has one of this country's toughest and most challeng- ing missions. In addition to provid- ing security for the physical divisions separating the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, CBP deploys the U.S. Coast Guard, now a part of DHS, to keep our maritime borders both as safe and impenetrable as possible. Once considered mostly a military ser- vice, the Coast Guard integrates law enforcement duties into its operations, standing as one of the most significant resources in the prevention of smug- gling and waterborne illegal entry into the U.S. But that's only a portion of the CBP's duties. With upwards of 60,000 employees, the CBP works with other agencies to prevent the egress and ingress of terrorists and their weapons, while guarding the borders from ille- gal entry, carrying out drug interdic- tion and preventing contraband from entering the country. From exotic live animals to produce and foliage sporting insects not indigenous to the U.S. to the trafficking of human beings, CBP employees have seen it all. And trying to describe all of the agency's duties is a daunting task: the organization's core mission is so broad and far-reaching, It stretches 4,000 miles and divides two allied countries…with U.S. enforcement duties falling to one enormous, diverse agency. by Carole Moore Biometrics at the border 24 Law Enforcement Technology March 2015 www.officer.com