Customs and Border Protection in Oklahoma
United States Customs and Border Protection maintains two Ports of Entry in Oklahoma:
Port of Entry-Oklahoma City
4300 Highline Blvd., Ste. 250
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Port of Entry-Tulsa
2222 N. Cargo Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74115
These Ports of Entry fall within the Houston Field Office of Customs and Border Protection.
Both of the Oklahoma Ports of Entry conduct deferred inspections. According to CBP, “Deferred inspections are used when an immediate decision concerning the immigration status of an arriving traveler cannot be made at the port of entry due to a lack of documentation. On a case-by-case basis, the port of entry may schedule the traveler to report to a Deferred Inspection Site at a future date in order to present the necessary documentation and/or information. The traveler will be given an Order to Appear-Deferred Inspection, Form I-546, explaining what information and/or documentation is required to resolve the discrepancy.”
Any person set for a deferred inspection should contact our office prior to appearing at CBP.
Hiring an immigration attorney is strongly recommended (and often essential) in some situations for several key reasons:
- Expert Assessment of Risks: An attorney can review your case upfront to evaluate the likelihood of denial, detention, or escalation to removal proceedings. For instance, if CBP suspects inadmissibility due to a criminal conviction (even a misdemeanor), an arrest record, or prior immigration violations, they can analyze whether it truly triggers bars under U.S. law (e.g., crimes involving moral turpitude). Without this, you risk surprises like CBP confiscating your green card or issuing an NTA on the spot.
- Gathering and Presenting Evidence: Deferred inspections place the burden on you to prove admissibility. An attorney helps compile targeted documents—such as certified court records, police clearances, proof of rehabilitation, or affidavits—and organizes them into a compelling legal argument. They can pre-contact CBP to clarify concerns, avoiding common pitfalls like incomplete submissions.
- Representation and Advocacy: You can bring an attorney to the appointment (with prior CBP approval), where they advocate on your behalf, answer complex questions, and mitigate officer biases or errors. Experienced counsel knows CBP procedures inside-out and can cite regulations to challenge unfounded claims, potentially preventing escalation.
- Avoiding Work and Status Disruptions: If your green card is temporarily seized (common in flagged cases), you may lose work authorization until resolved. An attorney can expedite the process, file for interim benefits if needed, and ensure you maintain eligibility without quitting your job.
- Long-Term Protection: Even if admitted, unresolved issues could haunt future applications (e.g., naturalization). An attorney builds a record of compliance, reducing future risks.
In short, while CBP’s process is administrative, it can feel adversarial, especially with subjective judgments. Attorneys turn the odds in your favor—many report successful outcomes, like regaining seized documents after hours of negotiation.