There are many stimulating international jobs in Homeland Security available for students who want to make a difference at home through working abroad.
International Affairs Coordinator
Not all international Homeland Security jobs deal with security. In fact, the Office of International Affairs is tasked with promoting U.S. interests and actively engaging foreign allies. Key policy issues include visa, cargo, border and aviation security. Immigration, law enforcement and terrorism are also very important topics. International affairs coordinators spend their time providing information and building support for these issues with local and international organizations. Part of this involves community and educational outreach programs designed to promote the sharing of knowledge, best practices and technologies relating to homeland security, according to the Department of Homeland Security. A senior international affairs coordinator can become an international affairs manager. Their job is to advise and assist Homeland Security leaders and departments with strategy development, foreign policy matters, and the internal programs and operations. They work with security agencies to manage international counter-terrorism activities and programs.
Customs and Border Protection Agent
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the biggest law enforcement agency within Homeland Security. They have different key missions, such as preventing terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking. CBP agents who deal with these crimes will work with other national and foreign security agencies. They work in airports screening passengers and ports screening incoming cargo in containers. In fact, CBP import specialists work with local and foreign companies to properly classify imported products. Agricultural specialists strive to stop destructive plants and pests from entering the country. A select amount of CBP agents work in international foreign ports that are part of the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI). The mission of this program is to prescreen and identify high-risk containers in foreign ports. According to the CBP website, the CSI program has almost 60 operational offices in foreign ports. Locations include Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and South America. However, there are other international jobs in Homeland Security for students interested in law enforcement investigation.
Criminal Investigator
Homeland Security criminal investigators are employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is the biggest investigations unit for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The mission of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is to protect the country against terrorists and international criminals who seek to disrupt or destroy the country’s trade and travel systems. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations has approximately 70 offices in almost 50 countries. HSI criminal investigators use state-of-the-art investigative tools and techniques to prevent crime and terrorism. They accomplish through concentrating on the people, finances and supplies that support criminal activities and illegal organizations. HSI criminal investigators are involved in a wide range of civil and criminal investigations. For example, they investigate national security threats, such as terrorism, criminal gangs and international organized criminal groups. They also investigate national security problems, such as drug smuggling, human trafficking, child exploitation and illegal arms export. However, there is a growing demand for HSI criminal investigators who specialize in white collar crime. This includes international financial crimes and commercial fraud.
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In the end, an international career in Homeland Security offers opportunities for travel and excitement. There are plenty of international jobs in Homeland Security available for students who are passionate about protecting people and communities.
