Border Agents in Fort Kent, Maine will find themselves in the unique situation of being in an American town where over half the population regularly speaks French. If that is not enough, recently Fort Kent, played host to a World Cup Biathlon, also known as skiing and shooting. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers turned what could have been a major headache – with career-competitors from over a dozen different countries skiing with rifles in an area spanning the U.S.-Canadian borders – into a major international success, with an estimated 120 million television viewers worldwide. It is during events like these that CBP Officers have a chance to put on a well-organized and positive face for the United States to a worldwide audience. Additionally Border Patrol Agents were kept on alert, conducting an increased number of patrols.
CBP Officers in Fort Kent Successfully Coordinate Major Event
The logistics of this operation were huge, and culminated in an international parade with participants marching from New Brunswick, Canada over a bridge into Fort Kent. CBP Officers were able to pre-screen the paraders using modern technology and did everything they could to make the crossing seamless, while at the same time ensuring all rules and regulations for those entering the United States were followed properly. Events like these can be a lot of fun for CBP Officers and Border Patrol Agents, but also a lot of work. Border Patrol Agents from the Fort Kent station participated in extra-enhanced frozen water and land line-boundary-watch operations, ensuring no one tried and take advantage of the event to make an illegal crossing.
When they are not dealing with international sporting events, Border Patrol jobs in Fort Kent mainly focus on keeping America secure with patrols across the unfenced frontier boundary and careful checks of the pedestrians as well as the passenger and commercial vehicles crossing the border on a daily basis.
Border Patrol Jobs in Fort Kent: CBP Officer Job Requirements
Before candidates will be considered for formal training and education in border patrol procedures, they’ll be expected to meet the following basic requirements:
- U.S. citizenship for at least three years
- No domestic violence convictions
- Valid Driver’s license
- Being no older than 40 (with exceptions for those with law-enforcement and military careers)
- Knowledge of, or willingness to learn the Spanish language
- Successful polygraph and drug test, and completion of a thorough background check