Indiana, the Hoosier State, is part of the Detroit Sector of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Commonly known as the border patrol, the CBP’s goal is primarily to prevent terrorists and their weapons from entering the U.S., and secondarily to detect and deter the illegal entrance of undocumented aliens, drugs and other contraband merchandise.
In 2011, the 409 dedicated agents/officers of the Detroit sector apprehended 1,369 men, 162 women and 28 juveniles (21 of them unaccompanied) from illegally entering the country. In addition, they confiscated 130.89 pounds of marijuana, 9.71 pounds of cocaine and were responsible for 119 prosecutions.
Indiana Ports of Entry
The CBP operates ports of entry in Indiana’s capital city of Indianapolis, which has a large international airport; Evansville, the third largest city in Indiana; and Fort Wayne, a “user fee” airport at which fees are charged for CBP services. Evansville, a dual port with Owensville, KY, is nicknamed “River City” because of its location on a bend of the Ohio River. The CBP accepts the entry of merchandise, collects duties and enforces customs, immigration and navigation laws at all of these ports of entry.
CBP Maritime Operations in Indiana
Indiana contains 21,000 miles of rivers, 450 natural lakes and shares its northern border with Lake Michigan, making marine interdiction agent jobs particularly important here. The largest river, the mighty Ohio River, forms Indiana’s eastern border with Ohio. Its several tributaries include the Wabash, the official state river, which makes up part of the Indiana-Illinois border. The section of Indiana’s northern border that touches Lake Michigan contains the cities of Gary and Michigan City, as well as most of the shoreline of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, an important wildlife refuge.
The CBP not only patrols the shores of lakes and rivers on foot or via bicycles, horses, automobiles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, but also by air and from the decks of boats. The national CBP maintains 109 water vessels, from blue-water craft to inflatable boats. Since dangerous people often try to enter between ports of entry, the CBP also uses such high-tech surveillance methods as video monitors, night vision scopes and electronic sensor devices placed at strategic border locations. These devices emit an alarm that allows for a timely response.
Border Patrol Requirements in Indiana
Border patrol jobs and U.S. Customs careers have more than doubled since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the CBP continues to operate an aggressive recruiting program that maintains stringent training requirements.
In order to meet basic border patrol job requirements, applicants must be under 40 years of age (some veteran exceptions are made), possess a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass an entry exam, fitness test, drug test and background investigation.
Individuals who meet these basic standards should apply online to schedule an appointment for the entry exam.
Available border patrol jobs are also posted on the federal job website USAJobs. In Indiana CBP recruiters maintain an information booth at the annual Black Expo & Job Fair.