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.
U.S. Workers
110,790
Median Salary
$93,580
10-Year Growth
-0.7%
Annual Openings
7,800
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
8 of 11 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can retrieve, summarize, and explain laws and regulations in clear language to travelers, shippers, and manufacturers, fulfilling the informational and explanatory aspects of this task.
Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
AI: Fully automatable - AI systems can automatically record activities, extract findings from logs and sensors, and generate standardized reports and records, fully automating routine documentation.
Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can compute duties and taxes from tariff schedules, classifications, and transaction details accurately and at scale, automating determination of amounts due.
Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
AI: Partial - AI can verify documents, detect forgeries, pre-screen applications, and support interviews with automated questioning, but final eligibility determinations and nuanced judgment calls in interviews require human officers.
Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
AI: Partial - AI and automated imaging can detect anomalies in cargo, baggage, and manifests and flag likely violations, but physical inspections, manipulations, and enforcement decisions still require human officers.
Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
AI: Partial - AI can analyze intelligence, sensor data, and manifests to locate suspected contraband and guide operations, but cannot itself execute seizures or perform the physical enforcement actions.
Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
AI: Partial - AI can assist in evidence analysis, drafting charging documents, and coordinating interagency information, but only human prosecutors and officials can formally institute civil or criminal prosecutions and make prosecutorial decisions.
Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.
AI: Partial - AI can review applications, flag eligible cases, and draft petitions, but final adjudication and discretionary mitigation decisions typically require human legal judgment and authority.
Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
AI: Not automatable - AI cannot physically detain individuals or exercise legal authority to effect arrests or arrange deportations and is limited to administrative support and recommendations.
Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
AI: Not automatable - AI cannot serve as a human witness or provide sworn testimony in court, although it can prepare reports and exhibits for human witnesses to present.
Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
AI: Not automatable - Collecting physical merchandise samples requires on-site manual handling and chain-of-custody control that AI alone cannot perform in most operational contexts.