Customs agents have been serving warrants or making busts or something all day long on Net 1 (repeater) and Tac 1 (simplex). They communicate with Charlie 100 to run NCICs and inform HQ of whereabouts. They'll notify HQ that they are enroute to an address and then 15-20 minutes later they will say they are clear of that address and enroute to another target. They are using Golf as their designator, like Golf 2209, etc... Any idea what kind of customs agents these would be with that designator? Or maybe what division of Customs they may be in?
Customs Service (ICE/CBP) Unit Designators
- Thread starter Gilligan
- Start date
- Status
I believe I was told that the GOLF designator was for ICE DRO (Detention and Removal Office):
http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities.htm
- Chris
D
DaveNF2G
Guest
Interesting. CBP/ICE in the Albany, NY, area uses full-time encryption.
I'm pretty sure Golf unit are FPS (Federal Protective Service). They were previously under GSA (General Services Administration), but are now part of DHS and actually under ICE even though they have nothing to do with Customs or Immigration (they protect Federal buildings). They mostly use UHF repeaters and get dispatched bt "megacenters", but I'm pretty sure they have VHF rigs to communicate with Charlie 100 for datas and transports. I'll check with my contact on Monday.
Well it sure sounds a lot more like Customs agents. They have been going to 10-20 addresses per day and occasionally you'll hear them make a 10-15 (arrest). It does seem to confirm the idea that they are immigration enforcement agents. Probably arresting the illegals that have major outstanding warrants or something.
davidbond21
Member
I have heard numerous Golf units on CBP frequencies in the San Antonio area. I don't think they are FPS as they have they're own system in these parts, though I can't be sure of your area.
Sorry for the delay...checked with my contact and "Golf" units are confirmed ICE/DRO. Some other identifiers...
Alpha = ICE/OI Special Agents
Charlie = CBP Tactical Communications Officers (radio repair, but they are armed I'm told)
Charlie 100 or Sector is the NLECC in Orlando
Delta is usually a Port base with CBP.
Golf = ICE/DRO Officer
India = CBP Officers
Kilo = CBP K-9 Officers
Lima = CBP/AMO Air Interdiciton Agents
Mike = CBP/AMO Marine Interdiction Agents
Omaha = CBP Air units
Tango = Task Force Officers with ICE
Charlie Gulf = Coast Guard
There are more, but this is the list my contact gave me off the top of his head.
Alpha = ICE/OI Special Agents
Charlie = CBP Tactical Communications Officers (radio repair, but they are armed I'm told)
Charlie 100 or Sector is the NLECC in Orlando
Delta is usually a Port base with CBP.
Golf = ICE/DRO Officer
India = CBP Officers
Kilo = CBP K-9 Officers
Lima = CBP/AMO Air Interdiciton Agents
Mike = CBP/AMO Marine Interdiction Agents
Omaha = CBP Air units
Tango = Task Force Officers with ICE
Charlie Gulf = Coast Guard
There are more, but this is the list my contact gave me off the top of his head.
MOTOROLANUT
Member
desigs
More PLEASE!!
More PLEASE!!
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Messages
- 642
Omaha5BP
Hi to all
I heard "Omaha 5 BP" checking in with 760 and enroute to another part of the state earlier today.
The transmition was on 163.6250 out / 162.825in repeater in analog mode, BP in this area still has
not gone to digital although Customs is fully digital here.
I have heard Romeo units, not sure what division they are.
73
Steve
KD7KDC
Hi to all
I heard "Omaha 5 BP" checking in with 760 and enroute to another part of the state earlier today.
The transmition was on 163.6250 out / 162.825in repeater in analog mode, BP in this area still has
not gone to digital although Customs is fully digital here.
I have heard Romeo units, not sure what division they are.
73
Steve
KD7KDC
xjf79
Member
you day will come steve when cbp will be p25 digital in your area like it is here on blaine/sumas Wash /surrey, delta B.C. border area... 780 is 100% p25 digital now in that area
on 163.625/ 163.675mhz
btw cbp is also using the jiwin P25 trunk system if thier regular repeater freqs go TU
xjf79
on 163.625/ 163.675mhz
btw cbp is also using the jiwin P25 trunk system if thier regular repeater freqs go TU
xjf79
ClayD
Member
E911GOD, Thanks 4 the update on the identifiers for CBP and BICE. That helps me understand a few things that i have heard. i am located in pa just west of trenton, nj so i hear quite alot of activity i guess between the offices in PA and NJ/NY.
Most of the stuff I hear with those callsigns I hear on the old analog channels but i have heard alot of activity on some of the 163-167mhz freqs in digital mode. i hear stuff that sounds like newark nj clear as a bell here in PA on the digital channels. i know there was mentions of linked repeaters in other threads. Any one else know if this is CBP or BICE on these? I assumed they were.
seems like BICE has an elaborate system if this is confirmed to be them.
Most of the stuff I hear with those callsigns I hear on the old analog channels but i have heard alot of activity on some of the 163-167mhz freqs in digital mode. i hear stuff that sounds like newark nj clear as a bell here in PA on the digital channels. i know there was mentions of linked repeaters in other threads. Any one else know if this is CBP or BICE on these? I assumed they were.
seems like BICE has an elaborate system if this is confirmed to be them.
The ICE repeater in Newark, Trenton, Atlantic City and Philly are all linked. Mostly P25 in the clear and most of the stuff I hear is surveillance around the Newark areas. But they do go encrypted...always seems like when things start getting interesting.
ClayD
Member
that would explain things. are the repeaters all the same freq when you say linked? anyone know the freqs for these?
10-10
Member
E911...you seem pretty knowledgeable with ICE. Do you or your contact know what frequencies ICE uses?
d_strong
Member
No, each repeater is a different frequency, but the transmissions are broadcasted over all 4 at the same time. That's why you'll hear a unit in Newark off the Philly site. This is also why a unit in Trenton can talk to a unit in Newark. Each unit is actually on a different site, but they can hear each other because the transmissions are sent over all sites simultaneously. I confirmed this listening to a surveillance when I was going down to Atlantic City one weekend from Bergen County. It was all P25 in the clear.
Try eastcoastscanning.com and click on the federal tab. There is a section for NY, NJ and PA confirmed federal frequencies.
Last edited by a moderator:
ecps92
Member
I could not find a Federal Tab at the site you indicated. Maybe not enough Coffee, but then again..
DHS/CBP-OBP Organization
HI guys did some research on this whole DHS/CBP/Border Patrol thing awhile back: There seems to be general confusion about the whole Border Patrol CBP, DHS relationship. I had the opportunity to speak to someone who understands the inner workings as they are a union steward. Here is what I think I found out in case it helps anyone else- understanding how the whole bailiwick fits together.
First of all, ICE and the Border Patrol still exist and have not exactly been absorbed into the CBP as one big happy homogenized family.
1. Customs and Border Protection is agency inside the DHS
1a. The United States Border Patrol is now an office inside the CBP- new title 'Office of the Border Patrol' or DHS/CBP-OBP.
1b. The legacy agency United States Border Patrol started out as a standalone agency but more recently was under INS and finally was shifted to DOJ when INS and Customs merged pre-9/11.
With 9/11 and the advent of DHS, USBP became DHS/CBP-OBP and lost many of its in house capabilities to the new overall organization to which it answered named DHS/CBP they lost command and control of thier Air wing and thier technology section (except radio, I think) and they lost thier DRO's or Detention and Removal Officers to ICE. USBP also lost their 'interior mission' mandate.
The DHS/CBP-OBP generally CANNOT operate more than 35 miles from the international boundary unless federally mandated and funded to do so and authorized by thier command staff. Outside that 35miles boundary, Immigration is the responsibility of ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE also enforces Customs Law away from the ports of entry. Notice the word Enforcement.
There are some DHS/CBP-OBP offices far away from the border in the interior and outside the 35mi boundary, but I am told they are mostly sparsely staffed and many remain open only because they have to by congressional funding mandate. The DHS/CBP-OBP's mandate is border protection not interior enforcement. The OBP wear the mil green uniforms still and now sport a DHS/CBP patch on their right shoulder and the same old round USBP patch on the left shoulder.
1b. At the ports of entry, those guys in the little booths used to be Immigrations Inspectors and they were Colocated with Customs agents. Customs also had a patrol component at one time but I digress. Those two jobs have been combined into one job. The positions only exist at the Ports of Entries. The New job is called 'Customs & Border Protection Officer' or CBPO. They wear Dark Blue usually BDU style uniforms.
The DHS/CBP patches worn by the CBPO's and BPA's are the same patch except the CBPO's are dark blue and have a colored DHS seal, the OBP's patch is more brown and tan toned with no color in the seal.
Think of the CBPO's as inspection and admission and ICE agents and DRO's as enforcement and removal, respectively.
2. ICE inherited the USBP's DRO's with the formation of DHS. Apparently for the first year or so the DRO's were forgotten about and actually has no chain of command thru the CBP. They were not represented by a union and had no supervisors. They essentially answered to no one. They were rogue. Fun stuff. I am told it took 18 months to iron the whole thing out to a workable point such as it is. There was a letter from the USBPA Union to DHS abou the whole debacle I found on Google about it too, fun reading. SNAFU as it is said.
2a. ICE, Customs and USBP were not friends/playmates/family before all this started and still are not. Have no illusion about that. Customs was the only clear winner in this marriage I am told- all the other agencies lost.
3. Border Patrol, Customs & Immigration Aircraft and Marine Assests: Almost all of these assets became part of a new branch of CBP- 'AMO' or Air & Marine Operations. There are exceptions- like small BP boats on inland waterways but not very many. The aircraft, boats and everyone who drives, pilots and maintains them are AMO employees not BP not CBPO's- AMO. They answer to AMO and take orders from AMO only. CBPO's BPA's ICE Agents etc. can all ask but cannot direct these assets so I am told. AMO Air folks wear TAN, CBP patch on Left arm, AMO patch on the Right. Marine unit folks wear Blue.
In many areas the DRO's remain on USBP radio channels for unknown reasons. Remember,they were rogue for a period of time and removed from the USBP- so the explanation I get is stubborness or tradition or both. USBP DRO's used to be DELTA units and are now GOLF under the new CBP identifer scheme as has been previously stated.
Many IEA's or Immigration Enforcement Agents also still affiliate with the Border Patrol despite not being part of the OBP any longer.
It should also be noted the it seems that the USBP is not happy under the CBP and has completely resisted using their radio identifiers in part for this reason but also because there are so many agents on at one time the they might have to use 5 or 6 digit identifiers. like Sierra123456 what a mouth full.This would also require CBP to change to 5 or 6 digit identifiers which I guess they do not want to do.
Federal Protective Service is Part of ICE (there's that word Enforcement again) so they are DHS/CBP/ICE-FPS. Remember, I mentioned Customs had a patrol function years back? Well apparently they missed having the Uniformed Patrol function capability so when DHS came along they lobbied for the FPS to be given them from GSA as and that also put fed building security under the umbrella of DHS. Anyway the FPS's mission now has an 'and other duties as assigned' type clause and can be used as seen fit by ICE- they are not just 'doorshakers' any longer but that is still their primary day-to day mission. FPS does not use Border Patrol nor CBP channels Per Se, they still tend to use thier own channels for day-to-day operations. A golf on OBP and A Golf on FPS are two different things- not related at all.
What holds for the future? Well, I am guessing that 'they' will try to consolidate the whole thing into a couple of different branches instead of 38 or whatever it is. The idea was already floated once and their was a huge outcry from the agencies. So I am told. I am thinking that it is gone but not forgotten and like so many 'good government ideas' the details/barriers are being incrementally worked out/dismantled behind the scenes to the point that it will be a natural progression someday. What a mess that will be. A sight to behold.
Well these are my beliefs, understandings and results of my personal inquiry on this subject. I might be wrong, I might not be. I'll let you guys decide. Thanks for a great board and thought I would give back.
HI guys did some research on this whole DHS/CBP/Border Patrol thing awhile back: There seems to be general confusion about the whole Border Patrol CBP, DHS relationship. I had the opportunity to speak to someone who understands the inner workings as they are a union steward. Here is what I think I found out in case it helps anyone else- understanding how the whole bailiwick fits together.
First of all, ICE and the Border Patrol still exist and have not exactly been absorbed into the CBP as one big happy homogenized family.
1. Customs and Border Protection is agency inside the DHS
1a. The United States Border Patrol is now an office inside the CBP- new title 'Office of the Border Patrol' or DHS/CBP-OBP.
1b. The legacy agency United States Border Patrol started out as a standalone agency but more recently was under INS and finally was shifted to DOJ when INS and Customs merged pre-9/11.
With 9/11 and the advent of DHS, USBP became DHS/CBP-OBP and lost many of its in house capabilities to the new overall organization to which it answered named DHS/CBP they lost command and control of thier Air wing and thier technology section (except radio, I think) and they lost thier DRO's or Detention and Removal Officers to ICE. USBP also lost their 'interior mission' mandate.
The DHS/CBP-OBP generally CANNOT operate more than 35 miles from the international boundary unless federally mandated and funded to do so and authorized by thier command staff. Outside that 35miles boundary, Immigration is the responsibility of ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE also enforces Customs Law away from the ports of entry. Notice the word Enforcement.
There are some DHS/CBP-OBP offices far away from the border in the interior and outside the 35mi boundary, but I am told they are mostly sparsely staffed and many remain open only because they have to by congressional funding mandate. The DHS/CBP-OBP's mandate is border protection not interior enforcement. The OBP wear the mil green uniforms still and now sport a DHS/CBP patch on their right shoulder and the same old round USBP patch on the left shoulder.
1b. At the ports of entry, those guys in the little booths used to be Immigrations Inspectors and they were Colocated with Customs agents. Customs also had a patrol component at one time but I digress. Those two jobs have been combined into one job. The positions only exist at the Ports of Entries. The New job is called 'Customs & Border Protection Officer' or CBPO. They wear Dark Blue usually BDU style uniforms.
The DHS/CBP patches worn by the CBPO's and BPA's are the same patch except the CBPO's are dark blue and have a colored DHS seal, the OBP's patch is more brown and tan toned with no color in the seal.
Think of the CBPO's as inspection and admission and ICE agents and DRO's as enforcement and removal, respectively.
2. ICE inherited the USBP's DRO's with the formation of DHS. Apparently for the first year or so the DRO's were forgotten about and actually has no chain of command thru the CBP. They were not represented by a union and had no supervisors. They essentially answered to no one. They were rogue. Fun stuff. I am told it took 18 months to iron the whole thing out to a workable point such as it is. There was a letter from the USBPA Union to DHS abou the whole debacle I found on Google about it too, fun reading. SNAFU as it is said.
2a. ICE, Customs and USBP were not friends/playmates/family before all this started and still are not. Have no illusion about that. Customs was the only clear winner in this marriage I am told- all the other agencies lost.
3. Border Patrol, Customs & Immigration Aircraft and Marine Assests: Almost all of these assets became part of a new branch of CBP- 'AMO' or Air & Marine Operations. There are exceptions- like small BP boats on inland waterways but not very many. The aircraft, boats and everyone who drives, pilots and maintains them are AMO employees not BP not CBPO's- AMO. They answer to AMO and take orders from AMO only. CBPO's BPA's ICE Agents etc. can all ask but cannot direct these assets so I am told. AMO Air folks wear TAN, CBP patch on Left arm, AMO patch on the Right. Marine unit folks wear Blue.
In many areas the DRO's remain on USBP radio channels for unknown reasons. Remember,they were rogue for a period of time and removed from the USBP- so the explanation I get is stubborness or tradition or both. USBP DRO's used to be DELTA units and are now GOLF under the new CBP identifer scheme as has been previously stated.
Many IEA's or Immigration Enforcement Agents also still affiliate with the Border Patrol despite not being part of the OBP any longer.
It should also be noted the it seems that the USBP is not happy under the CBP and has completely resisted using their radio identifiers in part for this reason but also because there are so many agents on at one time the they might have to use 5 or 6 digit identifiers. like Sierra123456 what a mouth full.This would also require CBP to change to 5 or 6 digit identifiers which I guess they do not want to do.
Federal Protective Service is Part of ICE (there's that word Enforcement again) so they are DHS/CBP/ICE-FPS. Remember, I mentioned Customs had a patrol function years back? Well apparently they missed having the Uniformed Patrol function capability so when DHS came along they lobbied for the FPS to be given them from GSA as and that also put fed building security under the umbrella of DHS. Anyway the FPS's mission now has an 'and other duties as assigned' type clause and can be used as seen fit by ICE- they are not just 'doorshakers' any longer but that is still their primary day-to day mission. FPS does not use Border Patrol nor CBP channels Per Se, they still tend to use thier own channels for day-to-day operations. A golf on OBP and A Golf on FPS are two different things- not related at all.
What holds for the future? Well, I am guessing that 'they' will try to consolidate the whole thing into a couple of different branches instead of 38 or whatever it is. The idea was already floated once and their was a huge outcry from the agencies. So I am told. I am thinking that it is gone but not forgotten and like so many 'good government ideas' the details/barriers are being incrementally worked out/dismantled behind the scenes to the point that it will be a natural progression someday. What a mess that will be. A sight to behold.
Well these are my beliefs, understandings and results of my personal inquiry on this subject. I might be wrong, I might not be. I'll let you guys decide. Thanks for a great board and thought I would give back.
lost_in_maine
Member
I am in Maine, 55 miles from the Quebec Border, and I see CBP here all the time, they even come up on local frequencies for chases, and running plates, maybe federally mandated as you say, as local SO/PD coverage is sparse between here and the border.
Doug
Thanks alanuaka, for your informative post! No wonder there has been so much confusion about this ever since the DHS was formed. I've tried to research this topic, but found it difficult and time consuming, mostly because of the need to visit so many websites.
- Status
