Located in the northwest corner of Minnesota, Lancaster is a small town of approximately 340 people. Visitors to Lancaster may enjoy sports opportunities such as playing gold, cross country skiing, wildlife viewing and camping. The border crossing that connects Lancaster with Tolstoi, Manitoba is lightly used, primarily serving vacationers and local residents. It is open daily from 8 am until 10 pm for passenger services. Because this port of entry does not see much cargo traffic, commercial services are available only during limited hours on weekdays.
Working at the Lancaster/Tolstoi Border Crossing
The small border crossing at Lancaster falls within the Grand Forks Sector of the United State Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Lancaster’s nearest CBP station is at Pembina, North Dakota. As part of the Pembina Station, Border Patrol agent jobs involve monitoring 102 land miles of border shared with the Canadian Province of Manitoba.
The Lancaster border crossing itself is fairly quiet, with “port running” (or trying to cross the border without stopping) one of the more noteworthy criminal activities that agents and officers at the station receive training to handle. However, Border Patrol agents working in this area must also patrol remote stretches of countryside that may be vulnerable to narcotics smuggling, human trafficking and other nefarious activity. As these sorts of problems have increased in recent years, CBP has increased staffing along the northern border. CBP currently employs more than 200 agents within the Grand Forks Sector.
Department of Homeland Security
US Customs and Border Protection is part of the Department of Homeland Security. While CBP prioritizes national security and preventing terrorists and weapons from entering the county, CBP agents are also responsible for securing the border, facilitating trade and travel, and ensuring laws are followed.
CBP employees are federal law enforcement employees and as such must meet standards of conduct and fitness as well as a series of job requirements. Once hired, CBP agents are compensated with salaries and federal benefits. Overtime pay is often available as well.