The Vanceboro Port of Entry in Vanceboro, Maine, is part of the large Houlton Border Patrol Sector, which covers the entire state of Maine. Under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employed 201Border Patrol professionals in FY2011 in the Houlton Sector, an increase from 190 in FY 2009.
The CBP, the law enforcement sector of the Department of Homeland Security, has the critical mission of protecting the nation’s borders from terrorists and terrorist activities and weapons, as well as illegal aliens and those who smuggle illegal aliens. The Houlton Sector alone was responsible for making 41 apprehensions and seizing 171 pounds of marijuana in 2011.
Vanceboro, Maine, Port of Entry
The Vanceboro Port of Entry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services are provided by the Portland Service Port , which is open 7:00AM to 11:00PM, seven days a week. The Vanceboro Port of Entry is part of the Boston Field Operations office in Boston, Massachusetts.
Although the two main Border Patrol professionals employed at the Vanceboro Port of Entry are Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers, the following Border Patrol jobs may also be found there and across the Houlton Sector:
- Agricultural Specialists
- Air and Marine Interdiction Agents
- Intelligence Research Specialists
- Contract Specialists
Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers are the frontline law enforcement professionals of the CBP who receive advanced education and training that prepares them for nearly anything. Border Patrol Agents are responsible for line watch at or near the land border. They often maintain surveillance, the follow tracks and follow up on leads, and they pay close attention to marks and other physical evidence of illegal border crossings.
CBP Officers are assigned positions at the nation’s more than 330 ports of entry, where they do everything from screen passengers and cargo to detecting and apprehending individuals engaged in illegal activities.
Jobs with Customs and Border Protection come with federal government benefits, including long-term care insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and retirement benefits, including 401K thrift savings plans.