Front-line enforcement
CBP is the primary agency carrying out border policies set by Congress and the president, making its operations central to debates over immigration and security.
In plain English
CBP is the agency whose officers and agents work at and between U.S. border crossings.
Simple example
CBP officers screen travelers arriving at international airports and land crossings, while Border Patrol agents patrol stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border between official ports of entry.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Trade and travel
The agency processes hundreds of millions of travelers and trillions of dollars in imports each year, affecting commerce and tourism.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Multiple components
CBP combines Border Patrol agents between ports, officers at ports of entry, and air and marine units that patrol coasts and remote areas.
Shifting directives
CBP's day-to-day priorities — such as how to handle asylum seekers or use of detention — change with administration policies and court rulings.