CBP Defines Four New Zones for Boarding and Seizing Vessels

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially designated four specific areas of water as Customs-Enforcement Areas (CEAs). These zones cover near-shore waters in South Florida, Central and Southern California, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast of Texas.

Why it matters: This is a procedural update that clarifies where CBP can legally exercise its full enforcement powers at sea. While it does not change the laws CBP enforces, it removes potential legal challenges by clearly defining the geographic scope of their authority in these four high-traffic smuggling corridors.

Who it affects

• Vessel operators and crew in the specified near-shore waters of South Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and Texas.

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This action was taken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and is published in the Federal Register; readers should consult the official document for precise geographic coordinates and legal definitions.

Agency: Homeland Security Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Source: Federal Register — read the official document