Border Patrol Acronyms

DISCLAIMER: HonorFirst.com is an independent organization and is in the process of obtaining recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not represent an official list of acronyms recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). HonorFirst.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any government agency.While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, users should verify official terminology through CBP or DHS resources.

ACPA - Assistant Chief Patrol Agent
ACTT - Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats

ALT - Artificial Language Test
AMO - (also called OAM) Air and Marine Operations
APAIC - Assistant Patrol Agent In Charge (This position was discontinued @ 2012)
AOR - Area of Responsibility
ASU - Anti Smuggling Unit
AUO - Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (This premium pay is no longer used by the USBP)
BCI - Border Coordination Initiative
BOHICA - Bend Over. here It Comes Again
BORCAP - Border Patrol Criminal Alien Program
BORSTAR- Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team
BORTAC- Border Patrol Tactical Unit
BPETS - Border Patrol Enforcement Tracking System (the current digital online system used for scheduling, leave requests & submitting digital T&As)
BPSCC - Border Patrol Special Coordination Center
BPA - Border Patrol Agent
BPAPRA - Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act (This is the USBP's current premium pay law)
BSI - Border Safety Initiative
CBASIC - Canadian Border Anti-Smuggling Information Center
CBP - Customs & Border Protection
CDI - Course Developer/Instructor (NTE 3-5 year BP Academy Instructor)
COBOR - Central Office Border Patrol (historical, used before HQBOR and OBP)
CPC - Central Processing Center
CPA - Chief Patrol Agent
CPI - Chief Patrol Inspector (Old Patrol term, no longer used officially)
CONCUR - not an acronym, but the digital online system used to submit all TA's & Travel Vouchers while on TDY
CONUS - Continental United States (also see OCONUS)
DEO - Detention Enforcement Officer
DCPA - Deputy Chief Patrol Agent
DPAIC - Deputy Patrol Agent In Charge
E3 - Enforce/Ident Portal (digital online system utilized to process all BP apprehensions & seizures)
EAC - Executive Assistant Commissioner
EARM - ENFORCE Alien Removal Module (case management tool to track the status of detentions and deportations)
EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity
ENFORCE - Enforcement Case Tracking System
EOD- Enter On Duty (date)
EPIC - El Paso Intelligence Center
FEHB - Federal Employees Health Benefits (Health Insurance, clickable link)
FORBPO - Fraternal Order of Border Patrol Officers (clickable link)
FOS - Field Operation Supervisor (This position was discontinued @ 2012)
FTO - Field Training Officer
IBET - Integrated Border Enforcement Team
ICAD - Intelligent Computer Assisted Detection (system used to monitor sensor activity in a station's AOR)
IDENT - Automated Biometric Identification System
IIRAIRA- Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (1996)
ILU - International Liaison Unit (with Mexico IBET is with Canada)
IMMACT- Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990
INA - Office of International Affairs
INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service (now defunct predecessor to CBP)
IRCA - Immigration and Reform Act of 1986
JIC - Joint Intake Center
MHC - Minnesota Hiring Center
MLETP - Marine Law Enforcement Training Program
MVSS - Mobile Surveillance System (scope truck)
NBCC - Northern Border Coordination Center located at Detroit HQ
NBI - Northern Border Intern
NFL - Nine For Life (when you had to compete for a Senior Patrol Position and a GS-11)
NNBIS - National Narcotics Border Interdiction System
NOR - Notice of Result
NTE - Not To Exceed
OASIS - Operation Against Smugglers Initiative on Safety and Security
OBP - Office of Border Patrol
OCONUS - Outside of Continental U.S.(See also: CONUS)
OFO - Office of Field Operations (Customs/Immigration at ports of entry)
OPCon - Operational Control
OPR - Office of Professional Responsibility
PAIC - Patrol Agent In Charge
PI - Patrol Inspector (Old Patrol term, no longer officially used)
POD - Primary Operating Domain
RABAS - Retirement and Benefits Advisory Services
RVSS - Remote Video Surveillance System (static cameras)
SPA - Senior Patrol Agent (This was originally a supervisory position beginning in 1926. In the 1980's it became a competitive journeymen position. With the across the board increase of the USBP journeymen level to GS-12 in 2009, the position fell into disuse.)
SBPA- Supervisor Border Patrol Agent
SEACATS - Seized Assets and Case Tracking System
SOS - Special Operation Supervisor
SPI - Senior Patrol Inspector (Old Patrol term, no longer officially used)
T&A - Time & Attendance sheet (how we get paid, submitted 100% digitally these days)...& not to be confused with:
TA - Travel Authorization (all agents on TDY require an obligated TA in order to complete official government travel in CONCUR)
TDY - Temporary Duty
TOS - Training Operations Supervisor (FOS 2nd line management position at the BP Academy)
TSM - Tracking, Sign Cutting, Modeling System (digital online system to track activity in an AOR)
TSP - Thrift Savings Plan
TO - Tentative Offer
UAS - Unmanned Aircraft System
UDA - Undocumented Alien
WC - Watch Commander
XD - Executive Director

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Government of Mexico Abbreviations (US equivalent, if any in parenthesis)

Agency Expanded Name US Equivalent
AFI Agencia Federal de Investigación (defunct – see PFM) FBI
BETA Grupo de Rescate y Apoyo al Migrante (Grupo Beta) BORSTAR
CISEN Centro de Investigación y Seguridad Nacional CIA
INM Instituto Nacional de Migración (officially INAMI) CBP
INAMI Instituto Nacional de Migración CBP
PFP Policía Federal Preventiva
PFM Policía Federal Ministerial (formerly AFI) FBI
PGR Procuraduría General de la Republica AUSA
PGJE Procuraduría General del Estado State AG
SEDENA Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional Army
SEGOB Secretaría de Gobernación DHS
SHCP Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público IRS
SRE Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores DOS
SSP Secretaría de Seguridad Publíca

Foreign Operations Branch Internal Abbreviations

BMI Border Management Initiative
BMTF Border Management Task Force
BMWG Border Management Working Group
BORSTAR Border Search Trauma and Rescue
BSI Border Safety Initiative
BSITS Border Safety Information Tracking System
BST Border Support Teams
BVP Border Violence Protocols
CBPMEX CBP Attaché, Mexico City
Dip Note Diplomatic Note
FOB Foreign Operations Branch
GoM Government of Mexico
HT Human Trafficking
IAA Inter-Agency Agreement
IBET Integrated Border Enforcement Team
ILEA International Law Enforcement Academy
ILU International Liaison Unit
INA Office of International Affairs
IVP International Visitors Program
MIRP Mexico Interior Repatriation Program
MIT Mexico Interagency Team
MXD CBP INA Mexico Division
NAC Nebraska Avenue Complex
NMC No Mas Cruces
NTE No Te Engañes
OASISS Operation Against Smugglers Initiative on Safety and Security
RTWG Repatriation Technical Working Group
SOD Special Operations Division
USG United States Government
WHI Western Hemisphere Initiative

***** - no longer valid
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DHS/ CBP

ADA: Air Domain Awareness
ADSII: Air Domain Surveillance and Intelligence Integration Plan
AMCPP: Aviation & Marine Commonalities Pilot Project
AMSC: Area Maritime Security Committee (works w/ RECOM)
BVPP: Border Violence Prevention Protocol
CCSF: Operation Caribbean Corridor Strike Force
CIR: Comprehensive Immigration Reform
COA: Course of Action
CORE: A document structured to identify strategic Capabilities, measurable Objectives,

Resources and Evaluative methods necessary to achieve ADA

DOP: Declaration of Principles
DOTMILPF + RAGS: Doctrine/Plans/Policies, Organizations/Partnerships, Training,
Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Regulations/Authorities/Grants/
Standards
ERO: Enforcement and Removal Operations
ESG: Executive Steering Group (see IGB)
FERP: Federal Emergency Response Plan
FIG: Field Intelligence Group
GMCOI: Global Maritime Community of Interest
HSI: Homeland Security Investigations
IATF: Inter Agency Task Force (NorthCom)
IGB: International Governance Board (has an advisory group and executive steering
group)
INA: Office of International Affairs
IOC: Interagency Operations Center
ISR: Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
JFC: Joint Field Command
JIATF: Joint Inter-Agency Task Forces
JIOC: Joint Intelligence and Operations Center
JOD: Joint Operations Directorate
JTTF: Joint Terrorism Task Force
MERP: Maritime Event Response Protocol (part of Canada’s FERP)
MIFC: Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center
MOC: memorandum of Cooperation
MOTR: Maritime Operational Threat Response (under the US’ NSMS)
MSPCC: Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee
NCTC: National Counterterrorism Center
NDCS: National Drug Control Strategy
NIC: National Intelligence Community
NICCP: National Interdiction Command and Control Plan
NMIC: National Maritime Intelligence Center
NRP: National Response Plan
NSC: National Security Council
NSAS: National Strategy for Aviation Security
NSMS: National Strategy for Maritime Security
NSS: National Security Strategy
NSSE: National Security Special Events
NTF: National Task Force
OA: Office of Administration
OTIA: Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition
OIIL: Office of Intelligence and Investigative Liaison
PANEX: Operation Panama Express
PCC: Policy Coordinating Committee
PIR: Priority Intelligence Requirements
QHSR: Quadrennial Homeland Security Review
RBOC: Regional Border Operations Council
SAF/AQI: Secretary of the Air Force Information Dominance
SOI: Statement of Intent
SRPP: Strategic Requirements Planning Process
TSDB: Terrorist Screening Data Base
TWL: DHS Watchlist Services
UCP: Unified Command Plan