Customs law prevents illegal entry of people, goods, and contraband while promoting safe and lawful travel and trade. The US CBP enforces customs law, collects import duties, and prevents illegal contraband from entering the country. NAFTA eliminated barriers to cross-border investment and goods movement. Each country has specific customs laws, including prohibitions on firearms, endangered species, hate propaganda, and cash amounts. Mexico has strict rules on declaring personal belongings at the border.
Customs law consists of laws and regulations that serve the dual purpose of preventing the illegal entry of people, goods, and dangerous contraband into a country, while promoting safe and lawful travel and trade from other countries. These laws cover border security and patrolling, protecting and enforcing copyright laws, and preventing smuggling and immigration fraud. Customs law includes regulations on items that visitors are allowed to bring into or out of a country.
The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is part of the US Department of Homeland Security. Its primary mission is to keep terrorists and weapons out of the United States while facilitating travel and trade. The US Border Patrol is the largest law enforcement agency in America. It works in partnership with immigration and law enforcement agencies. CPB is responsible for arresting people who enter the country illegally and preventing illegal contraband from entering the country. In addition to these responsibilities, it collects import duties, regulates and assists international trade, and enforces customs law regarding intellectual property theft.
With the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), Canada, Mexico and the United States eliminated barriers to cross-border investment and the movement of goods and services. Tariffs have also been lifted on most goods. The three counties also cooperate in border security, particularly in the areas of drug trafficking and human trafficking. Working together, US and Mexican customs authorities typically prevent more than ten thousand illegal weapons a year from crossing their borders.
Each of the three countries also has a specific customs law that regulates travelers entering their country. The United States and Canada prohibit the transport of firearms into the country. Mexico allows firearms for hunting and fishing only and a permit must be obtained in advance from the Mexican consulate. Mexico requires a passport and travel visa, as does Canada, except for US citizens. The United States makes the same exception for Canadian citizens.
The United States prohibits the importation of fish and wildlife or any product made from an endangered species. Haitian animal skin drums and gold from Cuba, Iran and Burma are also banned. Canada does not allow “hate propaganda” and obscene material to be brought into the country. Anyone entering Canada with more than ten thousand dollars in cash must report this fact to the Canadian Border Service Agency.
Mexico has strict rules on declaring personal belongings at the border, even if the items are permitted and duty-free. Failure to declare items such as cell phones, CDs, personal computers and other electronic devices may result in their seizure as contraband. If personal items are seized as contraband, the vehicle they arrived in is typically seized as being used for attempted smuggling. People wishing to drive in Mexico must purchase Mexican insurance.
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