This policy assigns Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees, including CBP Officers and CBP Agriculture Specialists, to offices or areas where there is a need, rather than the areas in which they were born or raised. This approach aligns with policies followed by agencies like the FBI and U.S. Marshals, who frequently assign agents to regions outside their hometowns to avoid conflicts of interest or biases that might arise from working close to home.
Currently, CBP Officers are permitted to serve in the areas where they grew up, typically along the U.S.-Mexico or U.S.-Canada borders. Many of these officers have immediate family members across the border, which could present a potential for corruption and conflict of interest. This situation also poses a security risk, as officers’ family members could be threatened or kidnapped to pressure the officer into allowing illegal cargo or individuals to cross into the United States.