4 Keeping Your Country Safe Every country has borders A border is the boundary around each country Sometimes the border is marked by a high fence or other barrier such as a river Often the border is the sea coast around the country The boundary between the U S and Canada is the world’s longest undefended border It is 5,525 miles 8,891 km long and crosses land and water FACTS AF Part of the United States Mexico border The U S side is on the left
5 Customs officers inspect bags Coastguards on patrol in New York harbor Many (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le (cid:90)ork at the borders to kee(cid:83) their o(cid:90)n country sa(cid:73)e (cid:54)o(cid:80)e ins(cid:83)ect bags at air(cid:83)orts Others (cid:83)atrol the sea in shi(cid:83)s or (cid:83)lanes looking (cid:73)or s(cid:80)ugglers or anyone trying to enter the country illegally Anti-terrorism is our primary mission but we are still focused on enforcement of immigration documents and illegal items (cid:36)rthur (cid:42)on(cid:93)ales (cid:56) (cid:54) (cid:38)usto(cid:80)s and Border Protection (cid:36)cting Port (cid:39)irector (cid:40)l Paso (cid:55)exas (cid:38)ountries ha(cid:89)e la(cid:90)s to (cid:83)rotect the (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le that li(cid:89)e there (cid:47)a(cid:90)s hel(cid:83) border o(cid:73)ficers to(cid:29) (cid:46)ee(cid:83) out illegal drugs (cid:54)to(cid:83) dangerous diseases (cid:73)ro(cid:80) s(cid:83)reading (cid:54)to(cid:83) (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le (cid:90)ho don’t ha(cid:89)e (cid:83)er(cid:80)ission to enter
6 The Protectors There are many people working to protect our borders They have different jobs that need special training and a range of skills (cid:39)etection o(cid:73)ficers (cid:90)ork at sea(cid:83)orts land ports and air(cid:83)orts (cid:55)hey check e(cid:89)eryone (cid:90)ho enters the country (cid:55)hey look (cid:73)or (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le (cid:90)anted by the authorities and (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le carrying illegal ite(cid:80)s such as (cid:90)ea(cid:83)ons (cid:55)hey also look (cid:73)or illegal immigrants (cid:44)ntelligence o(cid:73)ficers (cid:90)ork behind the scenes (cid:55)hey gather in(cid:73)or(cid:80)ation that assists in the detection o(cid:73) drugs and the arrest o(cid:73) s(cid:80)uggling gangs This X-ray shows people hiding in a truck They are likely to be illegal immigrants A detection officer conducts a search
9 The San Ysidro border crossing between Mexico and the U S shown here is the busiest in the world An estimated 300,000 people use it each day Quarantine o(cid:73)ficers (cid:83)rotect the country (cid:73)ro(cid:80) dangerous diseases and (cid:83)ests (cid:55)hey check (cid:73)or (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le bringing in (cid:83)lants and seeds as (cid:90)ell as ani(cid:80)als (cid:38)oastguard o(cid:73)ficers (cid:83)atrol the sea (cid:55)hey (cid:90)atch (cid:73)or (cid:83)eo(cid:83)le trying to s(cid:80)uggle drugs or other goods by boat (cid:55)hey are also on the lookout (cid:73)or illegal i(cid:80)(cid:80)igrants ACTION STATS
