The Otay Mesa Service Port in California is a border crossing from Mexico into the United States used by passengers and vehicles. The town of Otay Mesa developed around this service port in 1985. According to the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the Otay Mesa Port is now the largest commercial land border port in California as well as one of the United States’ busiest commercial land ports. For this reason, persons are constantly in demand to fill border patrol jobs in Otay Mesa, California. This port is under the management of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Border Crimes in Otay Mesa, California
Border patrol agents and other employees stop the entrance of illegal aliens to the U.S. on a daily basis at Otay Mesa, CA. They also prevent other crimes from happening, such as:
- Jan. 2013 – 310 pounds of marijuana being smuggled into the U.S. in a shipment of carrots
- Oct 2012 – $5.2 million of narcotics and $447,150 in unreported U.S. currency was seized at the Otay Mesa border
- Aug. 2012- 761 pounds of marijuana being smuggled into the U.S. in a shipment of carrots
- April 2012 – CBP Officers apprehended a homicide suspect wanted by the Los Angeles Police Dept. at the Otay Mesa border crossing
Border Crossings in Otay Mesa, California
Statistics provided by the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce indicate the following numbers of vehicles and persons crossing the border at Otay Mesa in 2011:
- Buses: 14,256
- Bus Passengers Arriving to U.S.: 63,264
- Privately Owned Vehicles: 1,591,487
- Privately Owned Vehicle Passengers Arriving to U.S.: 2,918,717
- Pedestrians Arriving to U.S.: 976,030
- SENTRI (expedited arrivals to U.S. with SENTRI card): 370,048
Border Patrol Requirements and Job Titles in Otay Mesa, California
Border patrol jobs in Otay Mesa, California are hot properties, as this is the largest commercial land border port in the state. Jobs at the Otay Mesa port include Border Patrol Agents, CBP Officers, Agricultural Specialists and the following:
Import Specialist: This professional must inspect, appraise and categorize goods entering the port of entry, determining what products are legal to enter the U.S. and which are not, to prevent smuggling and ensure the continued safety of the U.S. Requirements include:
- U.S. citizenship and residency
- Bachelor’s degree in business, economics or accounting
- Three years of general work experience
- Pass background check
- Pass drug test
- Complete seven weeks of specialized training once hired, in trade agreements, import and export trends, commodities, industries and goods
Immigration Services Assistant: This position helps the Immigration Service Officers at the Otay Mesa Port in checking those entering the U.S., researching, analyzing and collecting data as well as preparing reports, to prevent terrorism, make sure immigration laws are upheld, and ensure the safety of the U.S.
Requirements include:
- U.S. citizenship
- Pass background screening/financial disclosure
- Pass a drug screening test
- Have a bachelor’s degree in any field or one year of specialized experience in the duties listed above