CBP Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of America
On March 1, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection became the nation’s first comprehensive border security agency with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.
Before CBP, security, compliance and facilitation of international travel and trade were conducted by multiple organizations. The consolidation of these roles and responsibilities allowed CBP to develop seamless security procedures while ensuring compliance with the nation’s immigration, health and international trade laws and regulations.
The uniformed ranks are only a portion of CBP’s specialized corps. They are joined by forensic scientists, international trade specialists, public affairs officers and cadres of other specialists and employees who work together to make CBP’s processes more secure, cost effective and efficient.
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Historic 1st Year
“CBP delivered the safest border our nation has ever seen—and we did it in one year,” said Commissioner Scott.
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Border Patrol History
Since its inception in 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol has had a proud history of service to our nation.
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In Memoriam
Honoring Those Who Gave Their Lives in the Line of Duty.
Commissioners History
Throughout its history, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been guided by dedicated commissioners.
Current Commissioner
Rodney S. Scott is currently serving as the 6th commissioner. He previously served as the 24th chief of the U.S. Border Patrol from February 2020 to August 2021, in both the first Trump and Biden administrations.
CBP Milestones
Explore the key moments that shaped U.S. Customs and Border Protection into the agency it is today.
Milestones
In establishing CBP, its leadership ensured that the best traditions of its legacy agencies continued from:
- 1789: U.S. Customs Service, which traced its original functions to July 31, 1789, and noted its role as the progenitor of numerous federal bureaus and agencies. The Customs Service closed with the dawn of CBP, but its commissioner became the leader of CBP and the majority of its staff and responsibilities came to CBP.
- 1891: Immigration inspectors, who traced their responsibilities to the establishment of the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration on March 3, 1891.
- 1912: Agriculture inspectors, who traced their roles to the passage of the Plant Quarantine Act on Aug. 20, 1912.
- 1924: Border Patrol agents, who brought their responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the U.S. borders as they have done since Congress authorized the hiring of Border Patrol personnel on May 28, 1924.
- 2006: In addition to this core of specialties and responsibilities present at CBP’s founding, CBP also developed an air and marine monitoring capability with the formation of its third uniformed division, the Office of Air and Marine on Jan. 17, 2006.
- 2006:The Office of International Trade (OT) is established on October 15, 2006, to consolidate trade policy, program development, and compliance measurement functions into one CBP office.
- Visit CBP History Timeline for more CBP Facts.
Featured Artifacts
The CBP History Program collects and preserves objects, documents, photographs and other media relating to CBP and its legacy agencies.
A Real Government Black List
Featured Artifacts: Today, law enforcement officers can check electronic databases for arrest records and biometric evidence like fingerprints, which appear on screen in seconds to confirm the identity of a suspect. But in the days before computers, officers and agents relied on paper records and their own memories and powers of deduction to match a criminal with his or her identifying information.
Learn more about other CBP Featured Artifacts.
History in Print
Explore a curated collection of printed publications that preserve the legacy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its predecessor agencies.
The Commissioners of Customs: Pamphlet detailing Commissioners of Customs in the 199th year of the office's existence. Printed in 1987, the pamphlet provides details of the early years of the office of Commissioners of Customs and provides brief biographical details of each Commissioner.
First Officers of the United Stated Customs Service: Biographical details of the first officers of the United States Customs Service, appointed by President George Washington in 1789. This pamphlet includes significant documents and actions in the early history of the U.S. Customs Service.
U.S. Customs and Kindred Services of San Fransisco: Souvenir booklet discussing the U.S. Customs service and its sister services. Focus is U.S. Customs Service at the Port of San Francisco. Document contains historical information and photographs and was produced as a memento for former employees to take with them upon leaving the service. Of particular note are the unique caricatures of customs officials.
Celebrating landmark events from CBP’s first 20 years.
On March 1, 2003, U.S. Customs and Border Protection was established as the nation’s first comprehensive border, travel and trade agency. The agency’s formation was a direct result of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, known as the 9/11 Commission, and was established within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security.
The agency integrated four legacy agencies. The Customs Service, which was transferred from the Treasury Department, originates from the Fifth Act of the First Congress on July 31, 1789. Immigration inspection, from the Immigration and Nationalization Service, traces its roles to the establishment of the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration on March 3, 1891. INS also housed our enforcement functions, including Border Patrol, which was first authorized by Congress on May 28, 1924. The plant protection and quarantine inspection programs, from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the Department of Agriculture, traces its agriculture inspection roles to the passage of the Plant Quarantine Act on Aug. 20, 1912.