U.S. Customs and Border Protection will play a big role in the response and recovery efforts this week if Hurricane Dorian makes landfall on the East Coast.
A CBP official at the agency’s Washington headquarters said Friday that in addition to carrying out its normal travel, trade, and border security operations across the country, it is prioritizing assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local law enforcement officials ahead of, during, and after the major storm sweeps through.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian to Florida, where the governor has declared a state of emergency in several coastal counties. CBP’s highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety,” a second official wrote in a statement.
CBP is getting involved because it has manpower and equipment, including boats and planes, that can provide critical help in a disaster situation.
The agency, whose normal responsibilities include verifying a person’s legal ability to enter into the country, said personnel will not ask individuals about their immigration status or arrest anyone for immigration-related offenses while deployed.
“In consideration of these circumstances, CBP will suspend routine immigration enforcement operations in affected areas, except in the event of a serious public safety threat. Likewise, immigration enforcement will not be conducted along evacuation routes, nor at assistance centers such as shelters or food banks,” the agency, which is within the Department of Homeland Security, added.
??TEAMS OF TEAMS?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection @CBPCaribbean @CBPSoutheast are making preparations—working closely with a far-reaching network of Federal Emergency Management Agency @fema partners and local officials in advance of Hurricane #Dorian.https://t.co/CQ5i5qoVwf pic.twitter.com/iyOT2jxWJC— CBP Florida (@CBPFlorida) August 30, 2019
The 60,000-person agency began sending federal agents and officers to Florida as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this week and will continue to do so as FEMA shares what specific resources it needs as the storm approaches the continental U.S.
“Right now, we’ve identified 6 rotary [helicopter] and 1 P-3 [a fixed wing airplane] and associated crews for recovery that would come from outside the region, and all the assets within … but that will definitely change as Dorian heads in,” a second CBP official wrote in an email. CBP could not provide the specific number of people being deployed because preparation efforts were still underway as of Friday afternoon.
On Our Way!! #ThursdayMotivation CBP aircraft deploying this morning to assist @femaregion2 after #Dorian passed through the #USVI, Culebra, and Vieques. #AMO pic.twitter.com/O5gYsmRBs5
— CBP Caribbean (@CBPCaribbean) August 29, 2019
CBP is comprised of three components: Air and Marine Operations, Border Patrol, and Office of Field Operations. Each branch will typically send employees to help maintain public order, search and rescue, assess recovery needs, provide security, and other tasks in areas hit by storms, according to a press release. The aircraft and crews sent to Florida will provide aerial support for law enforcement and emergency responders rescuing people on the ground, as well as mapping of affected areas for FEMA.
Sometimes, riverine boats that belong to Border Patrol and are normally used to patrol and rescue people crossing the Rio Grande on the southern boundary may be sent in. Specially trained boat agents will use them to rescue people trapped inside or on the roofs of homes in flooded areas.
National Guard Maj. Gen. James Eifert said 2,000 of its corps will be mobilized Friday. Another 2,000 National Guardsmen could be mobilized by Saturday, depending on the need.
