CBP History Timeline

George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on the balcony of the First Federal Hall in New York which served as the seat of the federal government until 1790, when the capital was moved to Philadelphia. It was in this building that President Washington signed the Fifth Act of Congress, creating the Customs Service.

After the federal government moved to Philadelphia in 1790, Federal Hall became the Customhouse for the Customs Collection District of New York.

3rd Act of the First Congress of the United States establishes a system of tariffs on the tonnage of ships.

9th Act of the First Congress establishes the LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE. This is the first non-revenue responsibility assigned to Collectors of Customs, which was tasked with the design, construction, staffing and management of lighthouses in their Customs districts.

11th Act of the First Congress of the United States establishes the DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for the management of all matters pertaining to the collection and protection of U.S. revenue.

Congress authorizes Treasury Secretary to undertake the building of 10 CUSTOMS REVENUE CUTTERS. Customs Collectors were tasked with the design, building and selection of crews and captains, and management of the U.S. REVENUE MARINE.

Establishment of the MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE. Customs Collectors are charged with collecting hospital duties and with the construction/acquisition of marine hospitals. In 1809, the Collectors are authorized to fix all rules for the governing of the marine hospitals.

Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott designs the CUSTOM ENSIGN and PENNANT, and Congress declares these are to be flown on all Customs revenue cutters to indicate the authority of the United States government. This is the first flag designed specifically for an agency of the federal government.

An artist/writer/lecturer Ross Browne also shares the distinction of being one of the earliest SPECIAL AGENTS of the TREASURY.

Ross Browne's earliest federal appointment was in 1849, when Treasury Secretary R.J. Walker assigned him to investigate financial irregularities in the offices of the Customs Collectors at ports along the west coast. He was also tasked with investigating problems with the captain and crew of the revenue cutter of Conelius W. Lawrence in Astoria, Oregon. Being advised that he should avoid the delay and expense of crossing overland to the Pacific through Panama. It took Browne 6 1/2 months to sail from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horne, including Treasury business stops in Lima, Peru and Rio de Janerio.

In August 1853, Browne was appointed as Special Agent of the Treasury by Secretary James Guthrie. For the next two years, Ross Browne's assignments, to investigate the financial operations of the Collectors' offices, took him to ports of entry throughout the U.S. 

The LIFE SAVING SERVICE is established in the Department of Treasury; in the 1840's this vital rescue service is placed under the direction of the U.S. Revenue Marine, which at that time is under the management of the Collectors of Customs at the ports of entry.

As a matter of expediency, privately held buildings such as banks and commercial buildings are purchased by the federal government for the express purpose of accommodating the needs of the Customs Service - an example being the the beautiful U.S Custom House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

U.S. CUSTOMS BORDER PATROL is established when the Treasury Secretary authorized the Collectors of Customs to hire CUSTOMS MOUNTED INSPECTORS for patrol duty along U.S. land borders.

Jeff Milton, youngest son of a Florida governor, spent most of his long life in a succession of law enforcement jobs. Arriving in Texas at 16, he starts out as a cowhand. Claiming to be 20, he qualifies to join the Texas Rangers in 1878, and serves for four years.

Milton joins the U.S. Customs Service in 1887 and is appointed a CUSTOMS MOUNTED INSPECTOR headquartered in Tucson, in the Customs Collection District of El Paso. Milton spends two years with Customs, riding the line from Nogales westward to the Colorado River. As a political appointee, Milton finds himself out of a job in 1889, when a new political party takes over the reins of federal power.

After spending fifteen years as a "spotter" with the Southern Pacific railroad, and being involved in a shootout with train robbers that left him with a permanently disabled arm. Milton joins the Bureau of Immigration in 1904 as a MOUNTED CHINESE INSPECTOR charged with enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

At 62, Jeff Milton becomes the first officer appointed to the U.S. Immigration Service Border Patrol in 1924, and for the next 8 years he pursues border patrol work with unbridled enthusiasm.

The Economy Act of 1932 forces the still active Milton into retirement at age 70. The Sector Chief at El Paso writes in praise of him: You have come to be regarded "as an institution rather than an individual. No other immigration officer has your value in cultivating for the Service the good will and friendship we must have for effective enforcement of the law."

Congress enables the creation of the of the position "Fraud Roll Employee" in the Treasury Department's DIVISION OF SPECIAL AGENTS. Employees of the fraud roll were to detect and prevent fraud of the customs revenue; their credentials classify them as SPECIAL EMPLOYEES OF THE TREASURY. Early documentation and emblems show they were often titled CUSTOMS AGENTS and SPECIAL AGENTS.

The IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1882 levies a 50-cent tax on each non-citizen arriving at a U.S. port of entry to defray costs of implementing immigration laws.

The CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT cuts off legal immigration from China and outlaws granting of citizenship to the Chinese. This law places tremendous pressures on the Collectors of Customs and Customs Agents, who were charged with enforcing this law as fairly and equitably as possible.

The Customs Administrative Act establishes the BOARD OF GENERAL APPRAISERS, with the power and authority previously exercised and possessed by the Treasury Secretary in customs disputes. In 1926, the Board of General Appraisers was renamed the UNITED STATES CUSTOMS COURT.

From 1855-1891 CASTLE GARDEN (formerly Fort Clinton), at the tip of Manhattan, serves as the immigration station for the port of New York. In 1860, a full-fledged immigrant hospital is opened on HOFFMAN ISLAND, and a quarantine station for infectious diseases is opened on SWINBURNE ISLAND. Both islands are man made and located near Ellis Island in New York Harbor, and were abandoned in 1900 when the new Ellis Island immigration station opened.

Opening of the rebuilt NEW YORK IMMIGRATION STATION on ELLIS ISLAND.

The BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION and the PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE (later the PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE) work in partnership to process more than 12 million immigrants on Ellis Island between 1900 and November 12, 1954, when the immigration station was closed.

The BASIC NATURALIZATION ACT OF 1906 provides a uniform rule for the naturalization of aliens throughout the United States and the courts are required to use standard naturalization forms. This Act required that all applicants for naturalization be able to speak English.

The Department of Commerce and Labor is split into two separate departments. The Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization are joined into a single entity titled the BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION in the Department of Labor.

President Taft approves the burning of diseased cherry trees given by Japan to beautify Washington, D.C. Agriculture Secretary James Wilson uses the incident to highlight the risks of agricultural imports, and, thus, secures the Plant Quarantine Act of 1912. Japan replaces the diseased trees, and the new trees are planted along the Potomac River.

The PLANT QUARANTINE ACT establishes the FEDERAL HORTICULTURAL BOARD (FHB) in the Department of Agriculture and authorizes plant quarantines. Uniformed FHB Inspectors are co-located at the major ports of entry with Customs, Immigration, and Public Health Service Inspectors. The FHB becomes part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in 1972.

During this 13 year period, customs and immigration enforcement along U.S. borders and seacoasts was in crisis, and the toll on federal officers was great. The U.S. Customs Border Patrol lost 20 officers in the line of duty; the U.S. Immigration Service lost 4 inspectors and the U.S. Immigration Service Border Patrol lost 24 officers in the line of duty. 

U.S. Customs Service Patrol begins to utilize seized aircraft to enable aerial surveillance and enforcement. Thirty-five aircraft were seized for smuggling  by Customs Patrol in 1932 alone and leads to the establishment of an unofficial Customs Patrol air group, which enthusiastically patrolled the southern border for smugglers and their aircraft.

The CABLE ACT partially repeals the Expatriation Act, but declares that American woman who marry Asian nationals still lose their citizenship.

The Appropriations Act creates the U.S. IMMIGRATION SERVICE BORDER PATROL in the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

The Plant Quarantine and Control Administration (PQCA) is renamed the BUREAU OF PLANT QUARANTINE in the Department of Agriculture.

The title of Customs Mounted Inspector is changed to CUSTOMS PATROL INSPECTOR reflecting the transition to automobiles.

The INS BORDER PATROL TRAINING SCHOOL opens at Camp Chigas in El Paso; 34 trainees attend classes in marksmanship and horsemanship.

Customs DIVISION OF LABORATORIES is established. Nine laboratories are spread throughout the country, all under the supervision of the Chief, Division of Laboratories at Customs headquarters.

A flag identification project authorized by President Truman determines the eagle displayed in the union of the Customs ensign is not proper.

The union of the Customs ensign is changed to display the Great Seal of the United States, having an American Bald Eagle holding an olive branch with 13 olives in his dexter talon, and 13 arrows in his sinister talon; his beak carries a scroll inscribed with "E Pluribus Unum"; on his breast is a shield of 13 red and white pales with a chief of blue, and above the eagle's head a glory breaking through a cloud and surrounding 13 stars forming a constellation.

The Immigration Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, abolishes the national origins system as established in the Immigration Act of 1924 and modified by the Immigration Act of 1952. President Johnson signed the bill into law on October 3, 1965.

Prompted by hijacking U.S. flag air carriers, the Treasury and Transportation departments initiate a crash AIR SECURITY PROGRAM with U.S. Customs, designated as lead.

CUSTOMS begins its CANINE PROGRAM with ex-military sentry dogs and handlers; training takes place at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, where preparing a dog for Customs operations takes approximately 2 months.

TREASURY ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (TECS) begins operations with 20 terminals at the San Ysidro port of entry. TECS provides instantaneous information to aid in detection of violations, enforcement data to evaluate programs & performance, statistics for the allocation of resources and data for intelligence on violation patters, modus operandi & profiles.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes a detector dog program at Los Angeles International Airport. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) selects beagles as the breed, and the USDA's Detector Dogs become known as the BEAGLE BRIGADE.

CUSTOMS LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA CENTER opens in Springfield, Virginia. The Data Center continues to serve CBP.

The BLUE EAGLE receives the first Lockheed P-3AEW early warning aircraft as the centerpiece of the U.S. Customs fleet of drug interdiction aircraft.

Dedication of the U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE VALOR MEMORIAL in the Ronald Reagan Federal Building. Memorial designed by William F. Riley, executive director, Office of Planning.

Opening of the CUSTOMS CYBERSMUGGLING CENTER in Fairfax, Virginia.

The annual inflow of migrants into the United States reaches a record of 1.5 million.

Congress passes the PLANT PROTECTION ACT.

The World Trade Center in New York City is destroyed after commercial aircraft commandeered by terrorists affiliated with Al Qaida fly into the North and South towers. The U.S. Custom House is destroyed when the North Tower collapses onto it. The Pentagon, in Arlington, Va., is damaged in a separate attack, and passengers on a fourth airplane thwart hijackers, causing the plane to crash near Shanksville, Pa.

U.S. Customs establishes the CONTAINER SECURITY INITIATIVE (CSI). Core elements establish criteria for: identifying high-risk containers; pre-screening of containers before they are shipped to the United States; the use of technology to pre-screen high risk containers; development and use of smart and secure containers.

DHS temporarily transitions Air and Marine Interdiction Division to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Congress mandates the creation of a Northern Border Air Wing.

Border Safety Initiative is announced. Its aim is to prevent desert deaths of people trying to cross the borders illegally.

24-HOUR RULE is established. Under this requirement, manifest information must be provided 24 hours prior to the sea container being loaded onto the vessel in the foreign port.

Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) is launched, creating a public-private and international partnership including most of the largest U.S. importers to prevent legitimate commercial shipments from being used for illegal purposes.

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION (CBP) is created as part of the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Customs Service is transferred to CBP, along with the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and inspection function of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Robert C. Bonner was appointed the first Commissioner of CBP from March 1, 2003, to November 30, 2005, in the first administration of President George W. Bush.

As a merger of the Border Patrol and other front-line immigration and agriculture protection functions with most of the United States Customs Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection was created, being the first unified border agency in U.S. history.

World Customs Organization endorses a Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade based upon principles designed and implemented by CBP.

U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US -VISIT) program is instituted in 50 busiest land border ports of entry. It provides visa-issuing posts and ports of entry with biometric technology that allows a traveler's identity to be established and verified.

CBP creates the AG/BIO-TERROR COUNTERMEASURES (ABTC) program with the mission to prevent the entry of ag/bio-terrorists and their weapons and equipment.

CBP begins operations of its first PREDATOR B unmanned aircraft system.

SECURE BORDER INITIATIVE with increased staffing, new technology, enhanced infrastructure investment and regulations.

Deborah J. Spero served as the Acting Commissioner from November 25, 2005, to June 2, 2006, in the George W. Bush administration. Her appointment was confirmed by Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. She advanced strategic initiatives focused on CBP’s priority mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.

Spero also served as Deputy Commissioner from April 2004 to August 2007.

William Ralph Basham was appointed the 2nd commissioner from June 6, 2006, to February 27, 2009, in the second administration of President George W. Bush.

He was a lead proponent of the Global Trade Exchange, an intelligence-driven supply-chain data-mining effort that was one of three components of CBP's Secure Freight Initiative.

Operation Against Smugglers Initiative for Safety and Security is expanded by both the United States and Mexico as a successful cross-border prosecution and deterrent to smugglers who jeopardize the lives of aliens.

CBP launched the National Agriculture Release Program (NARP), an automated program that allows the inspection of high-volume, very-low risk commodities to be expedited. NARP will allow CBP to divert valuable resources to other high risk agricultural commodities which facilitates trade and enhances customer service.

CBP deployed the AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT (ACE) electronic truck manifest (e-Manifest) system to 98 of 99 land border ports and are processing nearly 30,000 trucks a day.

e-Allegations, an online trade violation reporting system, provides concerned members of the public a means to confidentially report suspected trade violations.

GLOBAL ENTRY, a customer service and security program designed to expedite the screening and processing of pre-approved, low-risk U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents traveling from abroad to the United States, was launched.

The ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ESTA) is launched. ESTA is a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA requires all nationals or citizens of visa waiver countries who plan to travel to the United States for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship.

Jayson P. Ahern was appointed acting commissioner from February 27, 2009, to March 10, 2010, during the transition of the President Barack Obama administration. He also served as the assistant commissioner for Field Operations from March 2003 to August 2007.

Before the launch of the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, he served in his current position with the legacy U.S. Customs Service, as the Director, Field Operations, Southern California Customs Management Center. In March 2003, he a served as the assistant commissioner for Field Operations until August 2007.

Travelers entering the United States by land and sea, who were previously exempt, including citizens of the United States, Canada and Bermuda are now required to have travel documentation under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

David V. Aguilar was appointed acting deputy commissioner from January 3, 2010, to March 27, 2010, in the Barack H. Obama administration. However, he never performed any duties of the commissioner. 

This was a unique situation in CBP history, where the agency had no commissioner and there was an acting deputy commissioner with limited power.

Alan D. Bersin served as acting commissioner (as a Recess Appointment) from March 10, 2010, to December 30, 2011, in the President Barack Obama administration. His recess appointment was effective with the same power and authority as if he had been confirmed until the end of the next session of Congress.

He also served as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary for International Affairs.

CBP officially designates Shannon International Airport (EINN) as the first authorized preclearance location for General Aviation (GA) aircraft passengers transporting up to 19 passengers and crewmembers.

Grand Opening of CBP's GLOBAL BORDERS COLLEGE (GBC) located on the campus of the CBP Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry, WV. The new 60,000 sq.ft. facility houses six classrooms and class break-out rooms, a computer lab, several conference rooms and over 80 staff offices. 

Since 9/11, CBP has trained more agriculture specialists, implemented more stringent targeting techniques, improved partnerships with Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and enhanced communications with the state agriculture departments. An example of strengthened partnerships and enhancements in training and technology is CBP’s interception of the khapra beetle. Due to an increasing number of khapra beetle detections at U.S. ports of entry in shipments of rice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a federal quarantine that restricts the importation of rice from khapra beetle endemic countries effective July 30.

Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar attends the New Orleans Custom House Rededication Ceremony and return of employees forced to relocate following Hurricane Katrina. Invited guests include Secretary Janet Napolitano; General Services Administration Regional Administrator, J.D. Salinas, III; Senator Mary Landrieu; Congressman Cedric Richmond; Suresh Kumar, Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS); and Director, US Export Assistance Center (USEAC) Louisiana Office, Donald van de Werken.

CBP Agriculture Specialists Thomas Schauweker and Jacob McDowell discover a tree frog sitting among a pallet of imported Syrian stone. They captured the frog and delivered it to U.S. Fish and Wildlife specialists, who tentatively identified the specimen as a Middle Eastern Tree Frog. A herpetologist at the Houston, TX zoo identified the frog as a Sevigny’s Tree Frog. The zoo accepted the frog and is now the only U.S. zoo with this species of tree frog in residence.

David V. Aguilar was appointed the acting commissioner from December 30, 2011, to August 30, 2012, in the administration of President Barack Obama. He served for the number of days allowed by law for persons to serve in an acting capacity. Due to President Barack Obama not nominating anyone to replace the former acting commissioner, CBP was without a commissioner well into 2013.

David V. Aguilar has also served as Patrol Agent in Charge at three different Border Patrol stations in Texas from 1988 to August 1996.

Thomas S. Winkowski was appointed acting commissioner from March 30, 2013, to March 7, 2014, in the President Barack H. Obama administration. He formerly served as the deputy commissioner.

He then served as the acting director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Opening of the Global Entry Enrollment Center in the Ronald Reagan Federal Building.  As of June 6, 2013, Global Entry is a permanent program with locations at 44 international airports, serving 98 percent of incoming travelers to the U.S. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano cut the ribbon, opening the center.

Richard Gil Kerlikowske served as the 3^rd commissioner from March 7, 2014, to January 20, 2017, in the second President Barack H. Obama administration.

He also served as the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy between 2009 and 2014.

Agriculture specialists at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge intercepted a rare, first-in-the-nation discovery in an incoming shipment of celery: the Amnestus brunneus (Signoret), which is not known to exist in the U.S.  Amnestus brunneus belongs to the Cydnidae family, commonly known as burrowing bugs, which feed on roots of plants.

Kevin K. McAleenan was appointed acting commissioner from January 20, 2017, to March 20, 2018, in the first President Donald J. Trump administration.

He also served as the acting U.S. secretary of homeland security from April to November 2019, and was recruited to help start up the new CBP Office of Antiterrorism, eventually becoming its executive director.

Kevin K. McAleenan was nominated to serve as 4th commissioner, from March 20, 2018, to April 11, 2019, by President Donald J. Trump. He advocated for the implementation of the administration's "Zero Tolerance" policy.

He also served as the acting U.S. secretary of homeland security from April to November 2019, and was recruited to help start up the new CBP Office of Antiterrorism, eventually becoming its executive director.

CBP's airport facial recognition system caught its first imposter at Dulles International Airport. A Congolese man posing as a French citizen allegedly attempted to enter the U.S. using someone else's passport. When his facial recognition image did not match his passport photo, a CBP officer conducted a secondary inspection and found the real Congolese identity card hidden in the man's shoe.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees at Toronto Preclearance operations welcomed CBP K-9 "Wade" to the team in February 2019. Wade is the first CBP agriculture canine to be posted at preclearance operations at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

CBP begins comprehensive critical response to the COVID pandemic, ensuring safe importation of personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and medicines.

John P. Sanders was appointed acting commissioner from April 10, 2019, to July 7, 2019, in the President Donald J. Trump administration.

He previously served as the chief operating officer from July 2018 to April 2019.

Mark A. Morgan was appointed acting commissioner from July 5, 2019, to January 20, 2021, in the first President Donald J. Trump administration.

He took command as the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in July 2016, the first chief to come from outside the agency, and later acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Troy A. Miller was appointed acting commissioner from January 20, 2021, to December 13, 2021, in the President Joseph R. Biden administration.

He held a number of leadership positions throughout his career with CBP, including assistant port director in Seattle, director of Targeting and Analysis in the Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination Center and director of the National Targeting Center Passenger.

Christopher J. Magnus was appointed the 5th commissioner from December 13, 2021, to November 12, 2022, in the President Joseph R. Biden administration.

Previously, he was the chief of police in Arizona, North Dakota, and California.

Troy A. Miller re-assumed acting commissioner from November 12, 2022, to January 10, 2025, upon the resignation of Christopher J. Magnus in November 2022.

He also served as the deputy commissioner from December 2021 to November 2022.

Pete R. Flores was appointed acting commissioner from January 13, 2025, June 23, 2025, in the President Joseph R. Biden administration.

Previously, he served as the Director of Field Operations for San Diego.

Rodney S. Scott was appointed the 6th commissioner on July 23, 2025, in the second President Donald J. Trump administration.

He previously served as the 24^th chief of the U.S. Border Patrol from February 2020 to August 2021, in both the first Trump and Biden administrations.