Start Your Career as a Deportation Officer

With all the news coverage and controversies lately on illegal immigration, you may have heard a lot about immigration enforcement. A deportation officer is an immigration official who is charged with the task of finding illegal immigrants who are unauthorized to be in the United States and sending them back to their home countries.

These officers work under the auspices of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The role of the USCIS is to regulate issues involving immigration and nationality. In some cases, it is necessary to detain and deport individuals who are found to be in the United States without authorization.

What Are the Job Duties of a Deportation Officer?

Deportation officers oversee deportation proceedings from start to finish. Some of the things they do are:

1. Detain illegal aliens
2. Investigate the circumstances of the person's stay in the U.S.
3. Make recommendations based on those findings
4. Work closely with foreign governments to arrange necessary travel documents
5. Respond to congressional inquiries

What Qualifications Must a Deportation Officer Have?

Like other law enforcement professionals, deportation officers must meet specific legal requirements to qualify for hire. An officer must be United States citizens who have lived in the U.S. for at least three of the five years preceding hire, or have worked overseas in a United States Federal or Military government agency. In the alternative, you may also have been a dependant of an overseas employee of a U.S. Federal or Military agency.

You'll need either a bachelor's degree in any field (especially criminal justice or law enforcement), or three years of progressively responsible work experience, or some combination of both. As with other law enforcement positions, a physical exam, written test, and background check are required.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Deportation Officer

Working as an officer that deports people can be stressful for a variety of reasons. Like other law enforcement professionals, you may encounter dangerous and even life-threatening situations in the course of your duties. You may also be charged with the difficult task of detaining only some family members, while other distraught family members look on or hinder your ability to do your job.

While you may have the reward of knowing you are helping to enforce the laws of your country, this can sometimes present a challenge in the more difficult cases. There are variety of reasons why immigrants may be deported, ranging from a simple lapse in completing the proper paperwork, to the commission of serious crimes. Regardless of the reasons, a deportation officer is charged with the task of enforcing the law and removing the unauthorized immigrant.

Why Should You Choose a Career as a Deportation Officer?

As difficult a job as it may be, becoming a deportation officer will allow you to work in a challenging and exhilarating field with the reward of knowing you are helping to secure our borders. This can be a particularly rewarding job if you have an interest in international issues.

If this sounds like a description of your skills and interests, consider a career as a deportation officer. You can get more information by visiting websites that cover the profession in more detail.

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