Washington, D.C., which is located in the Mid-Atlantic region along the East Coast, is bordered by Montgomery and Prince George Counties and Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. The Potomac River separates Washington, D.C. from Virginia and has two major tributaries, the Anacostia River and Rock Creek.
Washington, D.C. is overseen by the Buffalo Sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which also includes West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and 12 counties in Western New York, as well as 400 air miles of border, 36 miles along the Niagara River, and 33 miles along the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Buffalo Sector covers nearly 8,600 square miles in all.
Border Patrol Jobs in Washington, D.C. included 311 U.S. Customs careers as of FY2011. These Border Patrol Agents, CBP officers, Agricultural Specialists and Air and Marine Interdiction Agents had the specialized training necessary to successfully make 2,114 apprehensions and seize of 1,426 pounds of marijuana and more than 9 pounds of cocaine in FY2011.
Border Patrol Careers in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is now a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, employs a number of highly trained professionals, which include the following jobs:
- Border Patrol Agents
- CBP Officers
- Air and Marine Interdiction Agents
- Contract Specialists
- Agricultural Specialists
- Field Canine Coordinators
- Intelligence Research Specialists
Although each career path involves a set of specific education and experience requirements, all CBP jobs must meet specific core requirements. For example, all CBP professionals must be U.S. citizens and they must meet specific U.S. residency requirements. They must also hold valid U.S. driver’s licenses and pass a rigorous medical exam and fitness test. Finally, they must pass background, credit, criminal, and polygraph tests in order to qualify for employment with the CBP.
All CBP jobs come with a federal government benefit package, which includes federal health insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, and retirement benefits.
Washington, D.C. Port of Entry
The CBP oversees the Port of Washington-Dulles Port of Entry in Washington, D.C. A Port of Entry is where CBP officers are authorized to accept merchandise, collect duties, and enforce the provisions associated with customs and navigation laws.