JimH wrote:


Not according to their website. http://www.customs.gov/

According to tradition. We have had the Customs service since the
1700's.
It has only been the last few years when we have felt that it was
suddenly important to wrap up all sorts of agencies into a
super-organization called Homeland Security.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised to discover the mission statement of US
Customs has been tweaked a bit in order to keep the "code orange"
factor up as high as possible.

As a matter of fact, even the USCG started off as an agency to collect
taxes and tarrifs.
(Revenue cutters).