# Why do US Passport control officers carry guns **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257 "2014-11-10T18:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/1 "2014-11-10T18:03:34Z")
Especially when they are in their booths examining your passports? I can’t think of anyone else who does that at a major Airport, maybe at remote land frontiers. The last time I entered, the guy did not ask a question, just gestured to the machines, typed, grunted and admitted me (I doubt I’ll get admitted as easy now :D). I mean Passport control world over is filled with tired, smelly and cranky people who just want to GTF out. WHile armed presence is probably a good idea in these troubled times, won’t it be better to have dedicated personnel and not give a Pistol to the guy sitting in the booth? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/2 "2014-11-10T18:07:37Z")
My guess it’s that it’s more a matter of principle than practical need. They are law enforcement officers after all, and some jurisdictions make it a policy to have law enforcement staff armed when on duty. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/3 "2014-11-10T18:35:42Z")
Maybe it’s intended as a token of power. They very much have the power to deny you entrance to a country/lock you in a cage if they don’t like your story or your documents. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/4 "2014-11-10T18:53:45Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > My guess it’s that it’s more a matter of principle than practical need. They are law enforcement officers after all, and some jurisdictions make it a policy to have law enforcement staff armed when on duty. This. If by “US Passport control officers” the OP means Customs, they are LEO’s and most agencies require full uniform and equipment while on duty. I’m certified in the Time System so if the dispatcher calls in sick I can get yanked off the road and made to work dispatch. I still wear my duty belt as I’m on the clock. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/5 "2014-11-10T19:00:00Z")
“Passport control” or immigration are the guys who check and stamp your passpor. “Customs” are the guys who inspect your baggage. In the US IIRC the same body does both, in other places, they are different agencies who do so. This OP relates to the former. ---
**Author:** ![dofe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/6 "2014-11-10T19:42:59Z")
US Customs and Border Protection officers are considered federal law enforcement officers and are required to [carry](https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1012/~/career-as-a-cbp-officer) firearms: > [@](#): > > As a CBP Officer, you will be on duty at one of our nation’s international airports, seaports or land border crossings. These ports of entry are the front line of defense against terrorist intrusion, as well as criminal activities, such as drug smuggling, money laundering, undocumented entry of individuals, weapons trafficking, smuggling of prohibited goods and a host of customs violations. As a U.S. federal law enforcement officer, you will wear a uniform, carry firearms, and work overtime as required. Some CBP Officers are trained as dog handlers. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/7 "2014-11-10T20:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > These ports of entry are the front line of defense against terrorist intrusion Which explains all the gunfire in airports. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/8 "2014-11-10T20:44:26Z")
Because the flow-charts says so. Nobody has the authority to go over the head of the flow-chart. It is the highest form of tyranny. There is a master flow-chart, and all others derive from it. It is rumored that it originated with the Texas Schoolbook Authority. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/9 "2014-11-10T21:10:08Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > “Passport control” or immigration are the guys who check and stamp your passpor. “Customs” are the guys who inspect your baggage. In the US IIRC the same body does both, in other places, they are different agencies who do so. This OP relates to the former. the former are still agents of the US Customs & Border Protection agency. CBP agents are law enforcement officers. There’s your answer. > [@](#): > > WHile armed presence is probably a good idea in these troubled times, won’t it be better to have dedicated personnel and not give a Pistol to the guy sitting in the booth? the guy sitting in the booth probably doesn’t do that job day in and day out. and again, as LEOs he/she may be required to respond if there’s an incident in the airport/border crossing. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/10 "2014-11-11T00:15:37Z")
I’ve never been through one that I remember any details of, but wouldn’t they be the first person to run your ID and find out if you were a terrorist or wanted murderer? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/11 "2014-11-11T16:31:25Z")
Do US LEO’s mandate being armed at all times, even when it is not strictly necessary in particular duties? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/12 "2014-11-11T16:36:31Z")
I suppose it would depend on the individual agency in question. I was told by one municipal police officer that his department required him to be armed at all times whether in uniform or not, whether on duty or not. When he was off duty he would have a firearm in his glove compartment. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/13 "2014-11-11T16:44:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I suppose it would depend on the individual agency in question. I was told by one municipal police officer that his department required him to be armed at all times whether in uniform or not, whether on duty or not. When he was off duty he would have a firearm in his glove compartment. Yes that varies greatly between departments. I am not required to be armed while not at work and I rarely am. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/14 "2014-11-11T16:50:43Z")
Enjoy airport border control somewhere like Egypt. The joint is bristling with firearms. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/15 "2014-11-11T17:07:57Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Do US LEO’s mandate being armed at all times, even when it is not strictly necessary in particular duties? IIRC, one of the Milwaukee Sheriffs\* decided that all his deputies were deputies 100% of the time. And with that, they had to carry their gun and handcuffs with them even when off duty. PK probably remembers this better than I do. \*This may have been the police chief/police officers, I really don’t remember that well. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/16 "2014-11-11T17:18:28Z")
My first visit to Jamaica was eye opening. Police (army?) with machine guns. Do _not_ cross the yellow line until called!! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/17 "2014-11-11T17:28:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If by “US Passport control officers” the OP means Customs, they are LEO’s and most agencies require full uniform and equipment while on duty. But that answer just pushes it back one level. Why is a gun considered full equipment at all times? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/18 "2014-11-11T17:35:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I suppose it would depend on the individual agency in question. I was told by one municipal police officer that his department required him to be armed at all times whether in uniform or not, whether on duty or not. That policy must rather severely limit his possible vacation destinations. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/19 "2014-11-11T17:38:52Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Enjoy airport border control somewhere like Egypt. The joint is bristling with firearms. Does the guy stamping your passport carry a gun? For the record I am not asking about firearms at border control, I have said that those a probably a (regrettable necessity). Rather why are particular personnel at particular stations carrying firearms when _prima facie_ they have no use for them. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257/20 "2014-11-11T19:45:08Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > That policy must rather severely limit his possible vacation destinations. There is a large proportion of Americans who have never left the country. Regarding domestic flights, I believe PKBites has talked about how LEOs can take firearms on planes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-us-passport-control-officers-carry-guns/704257.md?page=2)