CBP Hires Veterans: What It Means for Immigration News 2026
What does it mean for immigrants when nearly one in five new CBP hires comes from the military? In fiscal year 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection hired 1,539 veterans — 18.5% of all new staff — continuing a years-long push to fill border enforcement roles with former service members. The agency now counts more than 18,000 veterans across its workforce, shaping who enforces immigration law at ports of entry and along the border.
A Quarter of CBP's Workforce Is Made Up of Veterans
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that veterans now make up approximately one-quarter of its total workforce — more than 18,000 people. In fiscal year 2026, the agency hired 1,539 veterans, representing 18.5% of all new hires. These individuals serve as U.S. Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, Air and Marine agents, criminal investigators, and mission-support professionals. CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott said the agency values veterans' "professionalism, teamwork, and sense of duty" as core to its enforcement mission.
What This Workforce Shift Means at the Border
For immigrants, a CBP workforce increasingly drawn from the military means interacting with officers who have formal training in high-pressure, rule-based environments. CBP officers are the first point of contact at ports of entry — they decide whether to admit travelers, refer them for secondary inspection, or flag concerns that can lead to removal proceedings. Understanding your rights during a CBP encounter matters regardless of who is staffing the booth.
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CBP also runs a SkillBridge Internship Program through the Department of Defense, which lets active-duty service members gain work experience at the agency before they separate from the military. In fiscal year 2026, CBP hosted 54 SkillBridge interns across 167 positions in 25 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Thirteen of those interns were later hired into permanent CBP positions — a direct pipeline from military service to immigration enforcement.
Your Rights During a CBP Encounter
Whether you are a green card holder, a visa holder, or an asylum seeker arriving at a port of entry, CBP officers have broad authority to question you and inspect your belongings. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) cannot be denied entry, but they can be questioned. Non-citizens on visas or seeking admission have fewer protections — CBP can deny entry without a hearing in many cases. If you are placed in removal proceedings after a CBP encounter, you have the right to appear before an immigration judge and, in most cases, to hire an immigration lawyer at your own expense.
What to Do
- If you are a green card holder or visa holder traveling internationally, carry your documents and know that CBP officers may ask detailed questions about your trip — answer honestly and calmly.
- If CBP places you in secondary inspection, you have the right to remain silent beyond basic identification. Ask whether you are free to leave or being detained.
- If you receive a notice to appear in immigration court (called an NTA — Notice to Appear), contact an immigration lawyer immediately. You have 30 days to appeal a removal order once it is issued.
- If you are an asylum seeker arriving at a port of entry, clearly state that you fear return to your home country — this triggers a credible fear interview, which is a separate process from regular CBP screening.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
From an immigration attorney's perspective, the most important thing to understand about CBP encounters is that what you say at the port of entry can be used against you in removal proceedings. Green card holders have the right to enter the U.S. but can still be referred to an immigration judge if CBP believes they have abandoned their residency or have a disqualifying criminal record. If you are detained or placed in secondary inspection for an extended period, you have the right to contact a lawyer — exercise it. Consulting an immigration attorney before international travel is especially advisable if you have any gaps in U.S. residence, a prior arrest, or a pending immigration application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a CBP officer deny me entry if I have a valid green card?
No. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) have the right to return to the U.S. and cannot be denied entry outright. However, CBP can refer you to an immigration judge if they believe you have abandoned your residency or are inadmissible for another reason, such as a criminal conviction.
What happens if CBP puts me in removal proceedings?
You will receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) — a document that starts your case in immigration court. You have the right to a hearing before an immigration judge and the right to hire a lawyer at your own expense. If a judge issues a removal order and you want to appeal, you have 30 days to file that appeal.
I am an asylum seeker. What should I say when I arrive at a port of entry?
Tell the CBP officer clearly that you are afraid to return to your home country or that you are seeking asylum. This triggers a credible fear interview conducted by a separate asylum officer — it is a protected process and CBP cannot simply turn you away once you express that fear.
Do I have to answer all of CBP's questions?
U.S. citizens have the right to remain silent beyond confirming their citizenship. Non-citizens, including green card holders and visa holders, are generally required to answer questions about their admissibility. However, you are never required to answer questions that go beyond the scope of your entry — and anything you say can affect your immigration case, so answer carefully and honestly.