Immigration officers monitor the eligibility of people, food, electronic devices and merchandise entering a country via an entry point. They use surveillance methods and check identification and documents to ensure entry criteria and custom laws are complied with. They can also conduct interviews with prospective immigrants to verify eligibility and inspect cargo to identify and detect violations.

Tasks

Tasks include -
(a) Patrolling national borders and coastal waters to stop persons from illegally entering or leaving the country and from illegally importing or exporting currency or goods;
(b) Checking travel documents of persons crossing national borders to ensure that they have the necessary authorizations and certificates;
(c) Inspecting the luggage of persons crossing national borders to ensure that it conforms to government rules and regulations concerning import or export of goods and currencies;
(d) Examining transport documents and freight of vehicles crossing national borders to ensure conformity with government rules and regulations concerning goods in transit and the import and export of goods, and to verify that necessary payments have been made;
(e) Detaining persons and seizing prohibited and undeclared goods found to be in violation of immigration and customs laws;
(f) Coordinating and cooperating with other agencies involved in law enforcement, deportation and prosecution;
(g) Performing related administrative tasks to record findings, transactions, violations and determinations;
(h) When necessary, testifying in a court of law about the circumstances and results of investigations carried out.