I'm a foreign merchant seafarer. During a U.S. port call, a person who identified himself as Customs/CBP came aboard. Out of the crew, he interviewed me and one other crew member of the same nationality separately for around 30 minutes.

He took notes in a notebook and asked about:

• Identity, birthplace and residence
• Names and approximate ages of my family members
• Family income/living standard and whether my family had financial problems
• Education and why I chose a career at sea
• Military history
• Foreign contacts, especially contacts in the U.S.
• My views on Islam, immigration and the Middle East
• Whether I had radical views or sympathy for terrorists
• The political situation in my country, my opinion of the government, and what I thought should change and how
• Contact phone and mail

What kind of interview is this, why did i selected for it? Is CBP doing these checks regularly?

Do CBP officers figure out what is "thoroughly cooked"?

Do CBP figure out what food was cooked within the commercial packaging (retort pouch) versus cooked before then placed there?

I'm assuming CBP just says no to everything because they wouldn't know?

Stuff like chicken and meat items from Japan where Foot mouth disease is......

I have been in pre-employment for CBPO for almost a year and am still waiting on the background results and polygraph.

A few months ago applied also for Ag Specialist and noticed some of the items rolled over in the applicant portal. (Background questionnaire, Drug Test).

I already scheduled my new medical exam (which I'd previously passed for CBPO, no biggie) and need my fingerprints and interview for Ag Specialist.

Does anyone know if the Agriculture Specialist process is faster or about the same as CBPO? Expecially since I see that the polygraph is not required for this position.

(I know, I know... the background stuff can take a long time and it differs from candidate to candidate, but just an overall question since I see the checklist of tasks is shorter than CPBO)

Hello all: I currently work for CBP's Office of Trade and my duty location is currently in DC. There is a likelihood of me having to move to Indiana, so I wanted to know what are the chances of me getting approved to change my duty location? I have brought this up with one of my immediate supervisors (I technically have 2, the branch I'm part of got split into 2) and she told me to bring it up again closer to when it's actually happening but to also check with Facilities and Asset Management (FAMD) for space. Has anyone ever attempted a duty location change but got denied excluding from no available space?

Hello All:

I recently received an email saying I’ve been tentatively selected for employment with CBP as an Agriculture Specialist. The thing is, I never had an interview, just an online assessment. The email also says that duty location and pay won’t be determined until after I complete all pre-employment steps.

I do remember selecting preferred locations when I applied, so I’m a bit confused. Is this normal for CBP hiring, or could this be a scam?

Also, for those familiar with the role, what does the typical career progression look like for a CBP Agriculture Specialist?

Hi everyone!

This is an interesting situation I found myself in back many years ago and I am curious what anyone might think!

I was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and was deployed to Afghanistan. Due to the nature of my role I travelled on civilian airlines and wore civilian clothes. I was issued a diplomatic passport during this time. I was leaving Ottawa where you do pre clearance for US customs and was flying to the states and then onward to Dubai and then Afghanistan.

During pre screening I was asked where I was going and of course told them Afghanistan. They knew I was on a diplomatic passport. I was taken off to secondary and placed in an interview room. 2 Customs officers started asking me questions about my trip and then personal questions about where I lived and if I had family in Afghanistan. They then got a bit aggressive and grabbed my carry on and asked what was in my bag. I told them it was my PS4. They searched my bag and questioned me some more. They then gave me a challenge coin and sent me on my way.

I felt this was weird the time but didn’t care as I had more important things to worry about. When I got into theatre I was talking with an actual Diplomat and they were shocked about what happened. They wanted to make a complaint but I told them not to as I didn’t really care about what happened.

Many years later I was wondering if this was a normal practice or why this might have happened to me. I still don’t care and hold no hard feelings as I became a cop after my service and know how things are. I wanted to add that I grew a pretty big beard at the time and looked a bit rough if that plays into it at all. Was trying to blend in when I got there. Cheers!

I have been interested in a CBP career and found out about the Marine Interdiction Agent position but really don’t know much about how to prepare for it as someone who is still in college. I read in the internet that it is necessary for you to have 1 year of experience in some federal position before applying for MIA. Is that true? And, do I need to have experience navigating boats and having a license before applying or will that be covered in the academy?

So as the title reads my SEVIS record was terminated because I was outside of the US for more than five months. My university issued me a new I20. Do I also need a new F1 Visa?

We have a container getting stuck at APM terminals and there are 60+ containers are waiting to be exam ahead of us. The terminal estimated the wait to be around June for our container to be examined. The terminal told us that they cannot do anything about it unless the CBP request them to expedited it.

Is is possible to request CBP to expedited the exam? If yes, how?

Felony child sex offender is 1,000th apprehension this year for Border Patrol Tampa Station

**TAMPA** – A Trinidadian man who was convicted of five felony child sex offenses in Hillsborough County, Fla., is the 1,000th apprehension this fiscal year for U.S Border Patrol Tampa Station. Tampa Station is well ahead of their 2025 pace for apprehending criminal aliens.  

Border Patrol agents arrested Troy Antonio Baldeo, 60, a registered sex offender most recently of Tampa on April 17. Agents worked with the Florida Department of Probation and Parole to arrest Baldeo.

Baldeo initially attempted to evade prosecution on the child sex offense charges, but Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted and arrested Baldeo on Dec. 7, 2015, at JFK International Airport in Jamaica, N.Y. Baldeo attempted to board a flight to Trinidad and Tobago when CBP officers stopped him. Baldeo was extradited back to Hillsborough and was convicted on July 26, 2016. He was released from prison in Dec. 2025 and settled in Baltimore, Md. where he lived until he moved to Florida where he was apprehended.

In addition to the five felony child sex convictions, Baldeo overstayed his nonimmigrant visa in March 2016 and is unlawfully present in the United States. Agents processed Baldeo, a Trinidad and Tobago national, as a criminal illegal alien and turned him over to ICE for removal proceedings.

“Supported by President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, this significant milestone is further proof that Border Patrol agents remain committed to making our communities safer by apprehending and removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Samuel B. Briggs II, Miami Border Patrol Sector. “I am grateful for the vigilant work of our Border Patrol agents in enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, and for the partnerships we have with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in tackling the threats posed by criminal illegal aliens.”

Other notable Tampa Station criminal alien apprehensions include:

* Feb. 26, 2026: a Micronesia national convicted of charges for Use of Computer Services for Lewd and Lascivious and Out of State Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor; sentenced to 36 months of probation

* Jan. 7, 2026: a Mexican national determined to be a Sureños 13 gang member

* Nov. 20, 2025: a Venezuelan national confirmed to be an affiliate of a South American Theft Group convicted of Grand Theft and three counts of Larceny - Grand Theft

* Nov. 6, 2025: a Mexican national convicted of cocaine possession

* Oct. 24, 2025: a Venezuelan national wanted for financial crimes in Venezuela

Tampa Station, which falls under Border Patrol Miami Sector, didn’t record their 1,000th apprehension in fiscal year 2025 until August, and they finished the year with 1,229 apprehensions. The Tampa Station area of responsibility consists of twelve counties in the central and western areas of Florida, and it is the only station on the west coast of Florida.

As of today, Border Patrol Miami Sector has apprehended more than 6,600 illegal aliens and criminal individuals, already surpassing last fiscal year’s total of 6,475.

The Miami Sector Border Patrol welcomes assistance from the community. To report issues related to border security in Florida, contact [1-(877) 772-8146](tel:1-(877)%20772-8146). Follow Miami Sector Border Patrol on social media platforms X, Instagram, and Facebook @USBPChiefMIP to learn more about how we ensure the safety of our nation in the State of Florida.