CBP OFFICER LOGICAL REASONING
PROFESSIONAL FEDERAL OFFICER PREP
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What are the four statutes that give CBP Officers specific arresting
authority?
Answer: 1) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(2) / INA 287 (a)(2)
2) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(4) / INA 287 (a)(4)
3) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(5)(A) / INA 287 (a)(5)(A)
4) 19 U.S.C. 1589a
●● True or False: All law enforcement authority must be used in a way
that is consistent with the requirements of the Fourth Amendment
Answer: True
●● What does the Fourth Amendment protect against?
Answer: Unreasonable searches and seizures
●● These are terms used to describe both the quality of available
information and how confident an officer is that something has occured
Answer: Levels of suspicions
,●● List the level of suspicions starting from the lowest level to the
highest:
Some/mere suspicion
Reasonable certainty
Reasonable suspicion
Zero suspicion
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
Probable cause
Answer: Lowest - Zero suspicion
- Some/mere suspicion
- Reasonable suspicion
- Probable cause
- Reasonable certainty
Highest - Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
●● This is the standard of proof necessary to convict a defendant
charged with a criminal offense. It is the highest level of suspicion, but
is never required to support law enforcement action in the field
Answer: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
,●● This is defined as a high level of suspicion, suspicion supported by
facts that create a "firm belief" or a "firm conviction"
Answer: Reasonable Certainty
●● What level of suspicion does a CBPO need to perform a border
search?
Answer: The officer must have REASONABLE CERTAINTY that the
person/thing to be searched has had contact with the border
●● This is defined as suspicion supported by facts from trustworthy
sources, along with the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
such facts, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that something
is probably true
Answer: Probable Cause
●● What level of suspicion does an CBPO need to place a person under
arrest?
Answer: The officer must have PROBABLE CAUSE to believe that the
person committed an offense
●● This is defined as suspicion supported by facts from trustworthy
sources, along with the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
those facts, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that
something might be true
Answer: Reasonable Suspicion
, ●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to perform a
non-routine body search during a border inspection?
Answer: The officer must have REASONABLE SUSPICION to believe
that the person is hiding merchandise on his/her body
●● This is defined as a subjective suspicion, which may be as little as a
"hunch" which may be based on facts that are not enough to establish
"reasonable suspicion"
Answer: Some or Mere Suspicion
●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to conduct an
immediate pat down for weapons during a border inspection?
Answer: The officer must have SOME OR MERE SUSPICION to
believe that the person is armed and dangerous
●● This described a situation where an officer has no suspicion of any
kind
Answer: Zero Suspicion
●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to conduct a
routine inspection of a person seeking entry into the United States?
Answer: The inspection may be performed by an officer even if the
officer has ZERO SUSPICION that unlawful activity has occurred
PROFESSIONAL FEDERAL OFFICER PREP
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What are the four statutes that give CBP Officers specific arresting
authority?
Answer: 1) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(2) / INA 287 (a)(2)
2) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(4) / INA 287 (a)(4)
3) 8 U.S.C. 1357 (a)(5)(A) / INA 287 (a)(5)(A)
4) 19 U.S.C. 1589a
●● True or False: All law enforcement authority must be used in a way
that is consistent with the requirements of the Fourth Amendment
Answer: True
●● What does the Fourth Amendment protect against?
Answer: Unreasonable searches and seizures
●● These are terms used to describe both the quality of available
information and how confident an officer is that something has occured
Answer: Levels of suspicions
,●● List the level of suspicions starting from the lowest level to the
highest:
Some/mere suspicion
Reasonable certainty
Reasonable suspicion
Zero suspicion
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
Probable cause
Answer: Lowest - Zero suspicion
- Some/mere suspicion
- Reasonable suspicion
- Probable cause
- Reasonable certainty
Highest - Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
●● This is the standard of proof necessary to convict a defendant
charged with a criminal offense. It is the highest level of suspicion, but
is never required to support law enforcement action in the field
Answer: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
,●● This is defined as a high level of suspicion, suspicion supported by
facts that create a "firm belief" or a "firm conviction"
Answer: Reasonable Certainty
●● What level of suspicion does a CBPO need to perform a border
search?
Answer: The officer must have REASONABLE CERTAINTY that the
person/thing to be searched has had contact with the border
●● This is defined as suspicion supported by facts from trustworthy
sources, along with the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
such facts, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that something
is probably true
Answer: Probable Cause
●● What level of suspicion does an CBPO need to place a person under
arrest?
Answer: The officer must have PROBABLE CAUSE to believe that the
person committed an offense
●● This is defined as suspicion supported by facts from trustworthy
sources, along with the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from
those facts, that would lead a reasonable person to believe that
something might be true
Answer: Reasonable Suspicion
, ●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to perform a
non-routine body search during a border inspection?
Answer: The officer must have REASONABLE SUSPICION to believe
that the person is hiding merchandise on his/her body
●● This is defined as a subjective suspicion, which may be as little as a
"hunch" which may be based on facts that are not enough to establish
"reasonable suspicion"
Answer: Some or Mere Suspicion
●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to conduct an
immediate pat down for weapons during a border inspection?
Answer: The officer must have SOME OR MERE SUSPICION to
believe that the person is armed and dangerous
●● This described a situation where an officer has no suspicion of any
kind
Answer: Zero Suspicion
●● What type of suspicion is needed in order for a CBPO to conduct a
routine inspection of a person seeking entry into the United States?
Answer: The inspection may be performed by an officer even if the
officer has ZERO SUSPICION that unlawful activity has occurred
