US Customs question for International flight connecting to Domestic flight

Ok, pardon the ignorance for a moment:

Could someone explain to me the customs procedure for connecting from an international to domestic flight?  When I arrive in Detroit, will I be wisked (haha) through customs, then reclaim and recheck my baggage, then go back through security?  I'm flying the same carrier on both legs of the trip (Northwest).  I thought there may be some alternative course for international arrivals connecting to domestic flights.  Maybe it's wishful thinking.  Just seems like a monumental waste of time to go through all of those steps, when my connecting flight is leaving from the same terminal and airline.  Help?!

i've never connected through Detroit, but I think the process is similar in all entry points.

when i've arrived in newark from the UK, have to go through immigration, collect bags, go through customs, follow signs for transfer/connecting flights.  at that point i go to my designated airline counter, drop off my bag and away i go.  it's not painless but not painful either.

When connecting through Detroit, immigration and customs is in the basement.  You go through immigration and then claim your luggage.  After customs there is a place near the exit to recheck you luggage with Northwest.  You exit on the basement level.  Look straight ahead and there is an escelator.  You can reenter the terminal through security on the 2nd or 3rd level.  All Norhtwest filghts are in that same terminal.