Nothing to Declare - UFP

[Shamrock Holmes]

I've been watching quite a bit of daytime tv lately including several 'border security' type shows and combined with a couple of ideas from watching the old Sea Patrol series, I'm wondering to what extent Federation worlds would have a 'customs regime'?

Obviously the issue of employment (a major issue on many shows of the type) wouldn't be a problem as even if you don't subscribe to the 'no money in the Federation' idea (which I don't) it is clear that on Federation worlds and bases 'basic needs' are met from the central resource pool and people only work for personal reasons (hobby, boredom, wish for luxuries...), so the UFP probably has de facto open boarders for refuges and economic migrants.

However, unspent criminal convictions, transfer of hazardous or potentially dangerous materials (usually refer to a 'biosecurity') and illegal drugs could easily still be a thing IMO?

 

[WraithDukat]

I should imagine they only let you in on a permanent basis if you have something to offer, otherwise why would there ever be any poverty (I use the term relatively) in the ST universe, interstellar travel is pretty normal so surely everyone and their dog would just migrate to the Federation and never have to lift a finger again if they could.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I should imagine they only let you in on a permanent basis if you have something to offer, otherwise why would there ever be any poverty (I use the term relatively) in the ST universe, interstellar travel is pretty normal so surely everyone and their dog would just migrate to the Federation and never have to lift a finger again if they could.

Perhaps, certainly we've never IIRC had anyone that would be described as 'unemployed', the closest would be either Keiko (who was a full-time mother, and a part-time teacher or botanist at various points, or Jake Sisko who dabbled in journalism and writing even if it wasn't a regular thing.

 

[Sgt_G]

Regarding a customs agency, it only makes sense there'd be one at the Federation level. One question is: would each planet have their own such agency, or would the Feds run it all?

For what it's worth, in the Star Fleet Battles universe, the Federation Police is a separate agency, not under Star Fleet proper, with their own fleet of ships. Much like the US Navy and US Coast Guard.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Regarding a customs agency, it only makes sense there'd be one at the Federation level. One question is: would each planet have their own such agency, or would the Feds run it all?

I think most planets/star systems (particularly member planets) have their own 'system guard' that would handle such matters in system directly on the 'frontier' but a Federation or Starfleet agency would probably handle the work in 'open space' parts of the border. This could be Starfleet Exploration (particularly on the NZ and DMZ borders, but I'm inclinded to suggest that the Federation Security Agency would probably handle it otherwise (Their known duties suggest a hybrid of the FBI & USSS).

 

[Sgt_G]

In SFB world, the Police are like a combined Coast Guard plus Customs Agency plus FBI/DEA/ATF/the whole alphabet soup of law enforcement.

Star Fleet patrols and guards the Neutral Zones, which isn't to say you won't find the occasional police boat out there, too.

At the start of the General War, the Police Cutter fleet outnumbers all of Star Fleet's warships & direct combat support ships by three to one or more.