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Immigration and Customs Inspector

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What Does it Take to Be an Immigration and Customs Inspector?

Job Description: Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.

List of Immigration & Customs Inspector Job Duties

  • Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
  • Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
  • Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
  • Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
  • Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.
  • Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Immigration & Customs Inspector?

Immigration and Customs Inspectors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Types of Immigration and Customs Inspector

  • Drug Enforcement Agent
  • Senior Patrol Agent
  • US Customs and Border Officer
  • Customs Import Specialist
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent (ICE Special Agent)

Job Outlook for Immigration and Customs Inspectors

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 110,900 jobs in the United States for Immigration and Customs Inspector. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Immigration and Customs Inspector by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,500 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Immigration & Customs Inspector are Nevada, Utah, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Immigration & Customs Inspector

The average yearly salary of an Immigration & Customs Inspector ranges between $43,800 and $138,860.

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Immigration and Customs Inspectors who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Immigration and Customs Inspectors in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $64,750
Alaska $118,360
Arizona $81,810
Arkansas $60,340
California $107,120
Colorado $87,280
Connecticut $90,470
Delaware $89,930
District of Columbia $122,460
Florida $76,560
Georgia $66,430
Hawaii $107,010
Idaho $73,510
Illinois $87,470
Indiana $75,150
Iowa $73,320
Kansas $62,260
Kentucky $71,300
Louisiana $65,090
Maine $70,620
Maryland $102,370
Massachusetts $101,800
Michigan $86,580
Minnesota $76,640
Mississippi $64,150
Missouri $70,860
Montana $81,210
Nebraska $73,480
Nevada $87,680
New Hampshire $80,370
New Jersey $102,600
New Mexico $77,890
New York $91,250
North Carolina $60,810
North Dakota $84,340
Ohio $75,310
Oklahoma $66,130
Oregon $93,840
Pennsylvania $85,730
Rhode Island $86,580
South Carolina $60,420
South Dakota $72,050
Tennessee $71,940
Texas $79,950
Utah $80,840
Vermont $83,060
Virginia $98,850
Washington $85,440
West Virginia $86,340
Wisconsin $76,590
Wyoming $81,750

Tools & Technologies Used by Immigration and Customs Inspectors

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Immigration and Customs Inspectors:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • SAP
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • National Crime Information Center NCIC database
  • Law enforcement information databases
  • Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS

How do I Become an Immigration & Customs Inspector?

Are there Immigration and Customs Inspectors education requirements?

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What work experience do I need to become an Immigration & Customs Inspector?

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Who Employs Immigration and Customs Inspectors?

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Immigration and Customs Inspectors work in the following industries:

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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