Originally Posted by
sethb
If you define "same job" that way, then are football players and baseball players doing the "same job"? They're both entertaining the fans by playing a game.
If you ask for a supervisor at Immigration, and then at Customs, does the same person show up? If not, they don't have the same boss.
The government's web sites seem to indicate the Immigration and Customs have different job titles, so it seems that it won't be the same person.
I do know that people have won lawsuits against government agents who claim that they're required to show ID, answer questions, etc. without actually having Constitutional authority to require that.
Using your analogy of sports. The CBP officer is like the quarterback. Sometimes he throws the ball, sometimes he hands it off, and sometimes he runs himself.
You have confused the USCIS with the CBP perhaps? Or perhaps your confusion is between the role of ICE and that of the CBP?
DHS has seven distinct agencies under its remit: USCIS, TSA, ICE, CBP, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the US Secret Service.
When you enter the US you are dealing with the CBP for every aspect of your entry including the verification of your legal right to enter along with the stuff you are bringing with you. The location supervisor is one and the same across all of the functions. Generally he's the guy with the stars on his appalet. These are Federal law enforcement officers and like it or not any one of them can ask for your documents at any time in the process. Like I said, if you have the privilege of being selected for secondary screening you will be asked for your travel documents by the CBP officer looking through your diry underwear or in some cases, your hard drive. Being a Dela DM doesn't change the facts.