Border patrol jobs in Michigan involve working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) out of the Detroit Sector, with headquarters located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. CBP professionals in the Detroit Sector are responsible for safeguarding not only the state of Michigan but also Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
These employees with border patrol jobs and U.S. customs careers patrol 863 miles of international water border with Canada as well as the entire state of Michigan, including its upper and lower peninsulas. The water border shared with Canada is crossable for nine months of each year, as it freezes for the remaining three months. It includes four of the Great Lakes – Huron, Superior, Erie and Michigan – as well as Lake Saint Clair, the Saint Mary’s River, Detroit River, and Saint Clair River. The prevalence of waterways in the Great Lakes State makes marine interdiction agent jobs vital to the CBP in Michigan.
In fiscal year 2011, the CBP reports that the Detroit Sector in Michigan apprehended 1531 persons. Employees in this sector seized more than 130 pounds of marijuana and almost 10 pounds of cocaine. One assault was reported in the Detroit, Michigan sector that year.
Border Patrol Requirements and Job Titles in Michigan
The CBP reports that in Fiscal Year 2011, 409 Border Patrol Agents were assigned to the Detroit, Michigan sector. There are other jobs and training opportunities available from time to time within this sector, including:
- Marine Interdiction Agent: Much of the international border of Michigan with Canada consists of water; therefore, Marine Interdiction Agents are in demand in the Detroit, Michigan sector. These agents are responsible for securing U.S. waters in Michigan, and preventing terrorism and illegal access to the U.S. through these waters.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and under the age of 40 when applying for this position. In addition, they must pass a background investigation, physical examination, and initial and random drug tests. If applicants have law enforcement or marine experience, that is a plus. A U.S. Coast Guard Marine License is required to apply for Marine Interdiction Agent jobs at higher pay grade levels.
- CBP Officer: The CBP Officer is a step up from the Border Patrol Agent. This officer is a law enforcement agent who may search, serve warrants, arrest, and prevent illegal immigrants from entering the U.S. through any of its international boundaries.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens under the age of 37 to apply to become a CBP Officer, as well as pass a background investigation, physical examination, physical fitness tests and drug tests. Applicants need three years of general experience for lower pay grade positions, and one year of specialized experience for higher pay grade positions. A combination of education and experience may be accepted for either level position
Border Crossings in Michigan
Border crossing stations in the state of Michigan include:
- Sault Saint Marie Station – includes all of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, 15 counties in the Lower Peninsula, Lake Superior and St. Mary’s River
- Marysville Station – includes the Saint Clair River, which connects to Lake Saint Clair to the south and Lake Huron to the north, as well as 19 counties in Michigan
- Detroit Station – international border in this station is all water, including the Detroit River and Lake Saint Clair
- Gibraltar Station – includes the Detroit River, Lake Erie, and the southeastern corner of Michigan