
12/23/2020
These Sex Offenders were prevented from entering the country and your community by #USBP agents, they are no longer a threat to you or your family.
Read more about these apprehensions and more ➡️ ➡️ ➡️ www.cbp.gov/newsroom
Official account of the U.S. Border Patrol. Protecting our Nation’s borders since 1924. Follow for the latest news and content from the field.
Operating as usual
These Sex Offenders were prevented from entering the country and your community by #USBP agents, they are no longer a threat to you or your family.
Read more about these apprehensions and more ➡️ ➡️ ➡️ www.cbp.gov/newsroom
U.S. Border Patrol RGV Sector
#HappeningNow
The pictures below are perfect examples of what #BorderPatrol agents do daily. They apprehend people who go to great lengths to avoid detection and apprehension after illegally entering the United States.
Agents work diligently to ensure the border is secure. These groups were apprehended in Havana and Mission, Texas by McAllen agents.
From south Texas to Arizona #USBP Agents & partner agencies worked together to disrupt multiple stash houses, resulting in the discovery of over 140 individuals confined w/in dangerous conditions.
Read more about these events by going to: www.cbp.gov/newsroom
These bad guys hide within groups.
The actions of our diligent #USBP agents know what to look for to identify the criminals in the bunch. These actions keep our communities safe.
Be on the lookout for more amazing recruitment opportunities.
SIGN-UP‼️
Are you interested in a rewarding career?
Please join the U.S.Border Patrol for a #Recruiting event on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. CST
Just scan the QR code or go to:
https://bit.ly/36YzqzK
On a calm and cold morning, #USBP vessels sit ready to patrol the Detroit River.
#borderpatrol #boat #boating #boatphotography #detroit
Smugglers led this mother & her 3-year-old-child on a multi-day trek through dangerous terrain. Thankfully, our agents are always on #Patrol and were able to rescue them off of the mountain.
Full press release:
SAN DIEGO — U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents arrested 14 inadmissible aliens on Friday who were crossing the border in a remote area on Otay Mountain. An adult woman and small child in the group required medical aid. At approximately 9:45 a.m. on Friday, USBP agents assigned to San Diego Sector’s Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) and the Sector Strike Team (SST) were working near Otay Mountain in East County San Diego when they encountered 14 people. The group was struggling to traverse through a desolate and remote area known as Copper Canyon.
A mother and her three-year-old daughter in the group did not appear to be injured, but the two were becoming dehydrated and having difficulty hiking out of the canyon. Air support was requested, since the location was nearly two hours from area roads.
A San Diego Sheriff’s UH-1 Helicopter arrived shortly after and CALFIRE rescuers hoisted the two up into the helicopter for extraction. The pair was flown to the Dulzura Fire Station, where emergency medical services and USBP agents were on standby. After providing first aid to the two, a subsequent immigration inspection was conducted. All subjects, including the mother and child, were found to be Mexican nationals illegally present in the U.S. and transported to a Border Patrol station for processing.
“These rescues are a direct testament to the heart, soul, and character of our agents,” said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke. “Crossing the border illegally remains an inherently dangerous endeavor and USBP takes every injury seriously. Migrants often become lost, injured, and abandoned by smugglers, who only see them as commodities for exploitation.”
#BorderPatrol #USBP #CBP #bordersecurity #LawEnforcement #police #policeofficer #uniform #badge #cops #firstresponders #rescue #emt #emts #searchandrescue #helicopter
#teamwork #immigration #airlift #mountains #air #airrescue
US Border Patrol Laredo Sector
#USBP agents from Laredo North Station interrupted a narcotics smuggling attempt when they initiated a traffic stop in central Laredo. The vehicle was traveling recklessly and struck a parked sedan as it came to a stop. A total of 5 bundles of Marijuana were found inside the vehicle. The narcotics weighed 391 lbs. and had an estimated street value of $313,056.
Criminal organizations continue to attempt to smuggle illicit drugs across our border and disregard the safety of our agents and the public. Our agents remain vigilant in their work to protect our border and our community from all threat, including drug smuggling. #BorderSecurity
We had a very busy week across the country. See more of the amazing work here
>> www.cbp.gov/newsroom
Here’s a recap of all the great work done by the men and women of the #BorderPatrol.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
It's National Horse Day! Horses are critical partners for U.S. Border Patrol agents. Horse Patrol units are often the most viable option for patrolling remote areas and without them, these areas would remain unpatrolled and susceptible to transnational criminal activity.
Learn more: https://go.usa.gov/xAcWD
US Border Patrol Del Rio Sector
It was my honor to help congratulate these 13 newly certified Emergency Medical Technicians. The class consisted of 11 Border Patrol Agents and two members of the Eagle Pass Fire Department. Impressively, all 13 members passed the EMT National Registry Exam on the first attempt! Our community has been strengthened today, and I look forward to seeing the lasting impact they will have on those they aid. –Chief Skero
US Border Patrol Houlton Sector
Agents from #USBPMaine delivered gifts to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program this morning. Celebrating the season by supporting children and their families within our communities during #COVID19. #HonorFirst
US Border Patrol, Tucson Sector
Bird hunters led #Sonoita Agents to an abandoned duffel bag full of meth a mile north of the #border. #Fantastic job in keeping these narcotics off the streets and out of our local communities. Your communities are our communities. #THANKYOU #BP #USBP
US Border Patrol Yuma Sector
Paul Franco is a superman of sorts. One minute he’s in a blue button-down shirt and under the hood of a Ford truck and in the blink of an eye he’s in a red felt suit and donning a long white beard.
Franco, who has been a mechanic for the Yuma Sector Border Patrol for 27 years, put on a Santa suit 35 years ago to help out some of his family friends and hasn’t looked back. He has been putting the suit on – with some upgrades – every year since then. In fact, he looks forward to the opportunity “to be Santa” each year as the holiday season approaches.
“Way back when my daughter [Andrea] was five or six years old, my friends needed Santa, so we said, ‘Hey, we’ll play Santa’,” Franco said, adding that his wife, Alicia, daughter and son-in-law, Carlo, are still strong supporters and proponents of him being Santa. “My first suit was plastic. Now I have four suits, and they are all real.”
Franco said his Santa duties these days have been postponed due to the pandemic, but he’s looking forward to next year when he hopes he’ll be able to put the suit on again. In year’s past, Franco has used his Santa suit to participate in non-profit and charity events, visit retirement homes, to help deliver toys to foster kids, to appear in light parades and for Yuma Sector’s own Santa Comes to Sector event in which employees’ children get to have their picture taken with Santa.
“We open our hearts up and try to help out a lot of people in need,” Franco said. “We do it because it’s so much fun. And the kids enjoy it.
“It brings happiness to the kids and it brings joy to my wife and I and our family,” he continued. “We like to give back.”
Franco, a Yuma native and Vietnam veteran, doesn’t stop helping others when the holidays are over. He volunteers his time throughout the entire year at Yuma Regional Medical Center and for the Arizona Children’s Association. He also serves as a board member and coach for the Yuma Boys Baseball League (YBBL). And he has previously volunteered at the Crossroads Mission and with his church.
Often times you see or hear #USBP agents say "Honor First."
Assessing the imminent danger this woman faced, he put his personal safety aside to save her.
It’s actions like these, that go above and beyond the call of duty and make up the phrase Honor First.
Congratulations to Curlew Station’s SBPA J. Weatherby on receiving the DHS Secretary’s Award for Valor, the Department’s highest award for extraordinary acts of heroism of courage.
Proud to have you as part of #SpokaneBorderPatrol!
Read the story below! #HonorFirst
🎉 Congratulations to US Border Patrol New Orleans Sector for hitting 1,000 followers on Facebook.
Make sure to check out their page by clicking the link below ⬇️⬇️⬇️ .
https://www.facebook.com/USBPNewOrleansSector/
New Orleans Sector Border Patrol
US Border Patrol Laredo Sector
#USBP Laredo North agents intercepted a human smuggling attempt when they stopped a commercial truck hauling a tanker trailer north of Laredo. The thoroughness by agents led to the discovery of 62 individuals enclosed in the trailer. #BorderSecurity
A look back in time.
These #USBP agents from Chula Vista, California are seen performing linewatch duties back in the 1960’s.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
$10.8 MILLION SEIZED IN NARCOTICS NEAR PUERTO RICO
On Sunday, AMO agents interdicted two vessels leading to the seizure of 888lbs of cocaine and the arrest of two U.S. citizens and three illegal aliens from the Dominican Republic and Colombia.
The estimated value of the seized narcotics is $10.8 million.
More details: https://go.usa.gov/x7h2A
Over the weekend #USBP Agents in Laredo, Texas, apprehended approximately 218 illegal aliens from 7 different countries in 2 human smuggling events.
In both incidences, most of the 218 individuals had no protection from #COVID-19 while crammed inside of the confined space.
U.S. Border Patrol RGV Sector
Today we honor and remember the 2,403 lives lost during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
#PearlHarborRemembranceDay
#NeverForget
Border Wall System Update:
423 miles completed
228 miles under construction
87 miles under pre-construction
To see the latest on the Border Wall System go to: https://bit.ly/2Yuerkb
#BorderSecurity #borderwall
US Border Patrol Laredo Sector
Chief of the United States Border Patrol, Rodney S. Scott and Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak, announced the appointment of Carl E. Landrum for the Senior Executive Service (SES) position of Deputy Chief Patrol Agent for the Laredo Sector.
Deputy Chief Landrum entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol in October 1996, as a member of Class 323. Throughout his 24 years of service, Deputy Chief Landrum has served in numerous supervisory and command positions including Special Agent with the Federal Air Marshal Service in New York City and Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters, in Washington, D.C. Deputy Chief Landrum promoted to the position of Patrol Agent in Charge of the Cotulla Border Patrol Station in 2011 and subsequently promoted to Patrol Agent in Charge of the Laredo North Border Patrol Station in 2012. In 2014, he promoted to Division Chief at the Laredo Sector Headquarters and also served as the first Chief of Staff establishing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Joint Task Force West in San Antonio, Texas. In 2016, he was promoted to Deputy Chief Patrol Agent of the Yuma Sector.
Deputy Chief Landrum attended Baylor University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of Phoenix in San Diego, California. He holds certificates from Customs and Border Protection Leadership Institute and the DHS SES Candidate Development Program. He earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Deputy Chief Landrum was the first civilian officer ever selected to attend the Army War College's Advanced Strategic Art Program, graduating with honors.
Deputy Chief Landrum begins his leadership assignment at the Laredo Sector on December 6, 2020.
A marine layer is an air mass that develops over the surface of a large body of water such as the Pacific Ocean in the presence of a temperature inversion, ultimately creating thick fog. The layer often travels a few miles inland.
This presents a unique set of challenges for agents, as it is a natural concealment that smugglers often try to exploit. US Border Patrol San Diego Sector agents working near the coast successfully adapt and overcome this weather condition on a routine basis.
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#HonorFirst #BorderPatrol #USBP #CBP #DHS #bordersecurity #LawEnforcement #police #policeofficer #uniform #badge #cops #fog #californiacoast
Repost from US Border Patrol San Diego
Every single day, smugglers put people at risk. They lie to vulnerable populations and prioritize profit over safety. In this tragic case, some lost their lives forever, and the suspected smuggler may lose his freedom to life in prison.
Read More >> https://bit.ly/3g9d5nu
A federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging a 27-year-old Laredoan for conspiring to transport an undocumented alien resulting in death
Respect for life and compassion for the vulnerable, all while upholding the rule of law and securing the border. That is the line we walk.
Only months into FY21, and the number of rescues continue to climb.
Click on the link to see the numbers >>> https://bit.ly/33Aba4C
#Tucson Sector Agents rescued 25 individuals over the weekend! This includes 3 toddlers and their mothers. The desert is a dangerous place even with temperatures beginning to decline. Hypothermia is a concern and it can quickly turn deadly. Details: https://t.co/65KMkAnHRq @CBP https://t.co/4igIUVSFTN
Border Wall System Update:
415 miles completed
236 miles under construction
87 miles under pre-construction
To see the latest on the Border Wall System go to: cbp.gov/borderwallsystem
#BorderSecurity #borderwall
Thank you to all the men and women of the #USBP for their unwavering duty and service to our country. Today and everyday, I am thankful for you.
On behalf of the US #BorderPatrol have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
#HappyThanksgiving #ThankfulFor #Thanksgiving2020 #thankyou
No matter what you hear, respect for life and #compassion for the vulnerable remain top priorities for #USBP agents. Smugglers left this woman clinging for life. Agents took action to save her. They do this every. single. day.
#1stResponders #rescue #BorderPatrol
Amazing work from US Border Patrol Del Rio Sector and our U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents.
Border Wall System Update:
409 miles completed
242 miles under construction
87 miles under pre-construction
To see the latest on the Border Wall System go to: cbp.gov/borderwallsyst…
#BorderSecurity #borderwall
US Border Patrol Spokane Sector
A Metaline Falls Agent assisted in rescuing a man who was alone, trapped in the snow and suffering from hypothermia. The agent helped medical personnel reach the isolated mountain location to provide life saving care. The victim is recovering at a local hospital. #HonorFirst
We had a very busy week across the country. Here’s a recap of all the great work done by the men and women of the #borderpatrol.
#USBP #weekinreview #lawenforcement #bordersecurity #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #k9 #k9handler #dogsofinstagram #narcotics #rescue #1stresponders #Texas #Arizona #California #mascot
U.S. Border Patrol RGV Sector
At times, law enforcement authorities rely on you, the citizen, to help us thwart crimes that affect our communities.
See a good example of it below ⬇️⬇️⬇️.
A concerned citizen’s call and a trail of shoe prints led #USBP agents to discover 405 lbs of marijuana in dense brush. In two other incidents, checkpoint agents seized cocaine with a combined weight of more than 7 lbs. The drugs are worth over $565K.
US Border Patrol Big Bend Sector
Day and night agents remain vigilant while protecting our nation’s borders. Over the last 24 hours, Sanderson agents apprehended a total of 23 individuals illegally present in the United States during three separate events. Great job to all of those involved in these apprehensions. If you are interested in joining the team, visit www.cbp.gov/careers #honorfirst
US Border Patrol Houlton Sector
#USBPMaine arrested the subject of a felony warrant and rescued the subject of a missing and endangered person alert. More on the story here: https://bit.ly/32ZJGGQ #HonorFirst
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Smugglers led this mother & her 3-year-old-child on a multi-day trek through dangerous terrain. Thankfully, our agents are always on #Patrol and were able to rescue them off of the mountain. Full press release: SAN DIEGO — U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents arrested 14 inadmissible aliens on Friday who were crossing the border in a remote area on Otay Mountain. An adult woman and small child in the group required medical aid. At approximately 9:45 a.m. on Friday, USBP agents assigned to San Diego Sector’s Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) and the Sector Strike Team (SST) were working near Otay Mountain in East County San Diego when they encountered 14 people. The group was struggling to traverse through a desolate and remote area known as Copper Canyon. A mother and her three-year-old daughter in the group did not appear to be injured, but the two were becoming dehydrated and having difficulty hiking out of the canyon. Air support was requested, since the location was nearly two hours from area roads. A San Diego Sheriff’s UH-1 Helicopter arrived shortly after and CALFIRE rescuers hoisted the two up into the helicopter for extraction. The pair was flown to the Dulzura Fire Station, where emergency medical services and USBP agents were on standby. After providing first aid to the two, a subsequent immigration inspection was conducted. All subjects, including the mother and child, were found to be Mexican nationals illegally present in the U.S. and transported to a Border Patrol station for processing. “These rescues are a direct testament to the heart, soul, and character of our agents,” said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke. “Crossing the border illegally remains an inherently dangerous endeavor and USBP takes every injury seriously. Migrants often become lost, injured, and abandoned by smugglers, who only see them as commodities for exploitation.” #BorderPatrol #USBP #CBP #bordersecurity #LawEnforcement #police #policeofficer #uniform #bad
We had a very busy week across the country. See more of the amazing work here >> www.cbp.gov/newsroom Here’s a recap of all the great work done by the men and women of the #BorderPatrol.
No matter what you hear, respect for life and #compassion for the vulnerable remain top priorities for #USBP agents. Smugglers left this woman clinging for life. Agents took action to save her. They do this every. single. day. #1stResponders #rescue #BorderPatrol Amazing work from US Border Patrol Del Rio Sector and our U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents.
We had a very busy week across the country. Here’s a recap of all the great work done by the men and women of the #borderpatrol. #USBP #weekinreview #lawenforcement #bordersecurity #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #k9 #k9handler #dogsofinstagram #narcotics #rescue #1stresponders #Texas #Arizona #California #mascot
Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz enjoying the PBR National Final’s Rodeo in Arlington,TX with US Border Patrol Honor Guard & #USBP Horse Patrol. #PBR #BeCowboy #NFR #rodeo #ProtectedByUSBp
#BreakingNews. 🚨 Early this morning, #BorderPatrol Agents from Miami Sector along with support from state & federal partners responded to a maritime smuggling event that made landfall near Palm Beach #Florida. Currently, 15 foreign nationals are in federal custody. PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
We had a very busy week across the country. Here’s a recap of all the great work done by the men and women of the #BorderPatrol. See more of the amazing work here>> cbp.gov/newsroom #WeekInReview #USBP #LawEnforcement #Texas #Arizona #California
Keeping America Safe. Border Patrol Agents along the southwest border arrest multiple convicted sex offenders in separate incidents within a week. Read more about it in the links below: ▶️ https://bit.ly/3ljohzD ▶️ https://bit.ly/3ljohzD ▶️ https://bit.ly/2UsnCQl
Check out our #throwbackthursday video. Three years ago, our #USBP #HonorGuard team was invited to present the colors at the Florida Panthers hockey game in Sunrise, Florida. Rich with traditions @usbpchiefmip Honor Guard is a great representation of how #USBP interacts with the community. #borderpatrol #usborderpatrol #colorguard #federalagent #honorfirst #floridapanthers #floridapanthershockey #nhl #nhlhockey #firstresponders #firstresponder #thingreenline #thinblueline #thinredline #americanflag #southflorida #thursday #americanflag
We celebrate Veterans Day as a tribute to those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Thank you to all who have served & to those who continue to serve within #USBP. With over 6,400 #Veterans in our agency, your dedication to our country is appreciated.Please join us and take time today to thank a Veteran for their service to our nation. #HappyVeteransDay #VeteransDay #Veterans #ArmyVeteran #navyveteran #usmcveteran #airforceveteran #AirForceVet #ContinueToServe #thankyouveterans #thankyouforyourservice
On behalf of the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol, I'd like to wish all U.S. Marines @USMC, #USMC Veterans and those continuing to serve in the #BorderPatrol a Happy 245th Birthday. #USMC245 #HappyBirthdayMarines #USMCBirthday #SemperFi #marinecorpsbirthday
#USBP agents remain committed to the mission of safeguarding our nation’s borders. #opioids #methamphetamine
Cameras & other #borderwall technologies provide #BorderPatrol agents with increased awareness. Watch as camera operators direct agents to 2 undocumented aliens struggling to stay afloat in the Salinity Canal near Yuma, AZ. Border technology improves security and saves lives. US Border Patrol Yuma Sector
Regardless of the time, you can count on #USBP to be there. #daylightsavings #daylight #daylightsavingtime #daylightsaving #USBP #BorderPatrol
Too many great things happened this week to add them all to this recap. See some of the outstanding work done by #USBP agents.
To mark the milestone of 400 miles of border wall system, @dhs_wolf, @cbpmarkmorgan, @usbpchiefRGV and myself @usbpchief sign the plaque to commemorate this moment in history.
To mark the milestone of 400 miles of border wall system, @dhs_wolf, @cbpmarkmorgan, @usbpchiefRGV and myself @usbpchief sign the plaque to commemorate this moment in history.
#BorderSecurity means protecting #America, & everyone in it. Agents jumped into action & responded to an #alert regarding a missing elderly woman in #BonnersFerry, Idaho. They located the woman in freezing temperatures & provided emergency care. Great job @USBPChiefSPW & team!
Weekly Recap: Watch this video highlighting some of the great work done by #USBP agents this last week across the country. What they do every day, is nothing less than protect #America. #BorderSecurity #sundayvibes #HonorFirst
NEW!! This is the 2nd in a series of videos that connects the dots between #drugs smuggled across the #border to every city, county & state throughout the country. What happens along the border impacts every single citizen in the US. #opioids #borderpatrol #new #narcotics
UPDATE: This is the 1st in a series of videos that reminds our Agents the risks they take every day to protect #America matter. We will continue to be diligent & always vigilant in the pursuit of our mission. #BorderSecurity #HumanSmuggling #BorderPatrol
Smugglers can dig, but they can’t hide. The #borderwall system and strong #bordersecurity posture by #USBP agents has pushed drug smugglers underground. We will be there waiting.
#BorderSecurityisNationalSecurity See the amazing work #USBP agents performed this week. They truly embody the motto #protectandserve.
Walls work! Smugglers used to drive across the border in this area at will. NOT Anymore. #walls #BorderWall
What makes these arrests significant? Who they are & what they do threaten every town, city & state across the nation. @CBP isnt here to protect the border, we are here 24/7/365 to protect YOU. Read more at >>>https://bit.ly/33AbsJB #bordersecurityisnationalsecurity #USBP
Hard narcotics seized AT the border vs IN your #community. You may not know this, but Cocaine, Heroin, Meth, and Fentanyl seizures are on the rise at the border for the last 5 yrs. #USBP keeps this trash out, so you don’t get littered with them where you live. #BorderSecurity
More than 5K lives saved. From rescuing individuals found struggling in #swiftwater, remote deserts, & rugged mountains or locked inside stifling #tractortrailers, #USBP agents were there. They are true #lifesavers. Read more about these stories
On behalf of the men and & women of the U.S. Border Patrol, I'd like to wish all U.S. Navy personnel, Navy Reserve, USN Veterans and those that continue to serve in the #BorderPatrol a very Happy 245th Birthday. #245NavyBDay #Birthday #USNavy #USBP #Veterans #Navy #NavyReserve
We safeguard the nation’s borders, preserve public trust, and support the men and women who selflessly protect America.
Steeped in tradition. Agile through innovation. Drawn to action. Bound by common purpose. We are the U.S. Border Patrol.
Since its inception in 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol has had a proud history of service to our nation. Although enormous changes have affected nearly every aspect of its operations from its earliest days, the basic values that helped shape the Patrol in the early years; professionalism, honor, integrity, respect for human life, and a shared effort, have remained.
Mounted watchmen of the U.S. Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to prevent illegal crossings as early as 1904, but their efforts were irregular and undertaken only when resources permitted. The inspectors, usually called Mounted Guards, operated out of El Paso, Texas. Though they never totaled more than seventy-five, they patrolled as far west as California trying to restrict the flow of illegal Chinese immigration.
In March 1915, Congress authorized a separate group of Mounted Guards, often referred to as Mounted Inspectors. Most rode on horseback, but a few operated cars and even boats. Although these inspectors had broader arrest authority, they still largely pursued Chinese immigrants trying to avoid the Chinese exclusion laws. These patrolmen were Immigrant Inspectors, assigned to inspection stations, and could not watch the border at all times. Military troops along the southwest border performed intermittent border patrolling, but this was secondary to "the more serious work of military training." Aliens encountered illegally in the U.S. by the military were directed to the immigration inspection stations. Texas Rangers were also sporadically assigned to patrol duties by the state, and their efforts were noted as "singularly effective."
Always referred to as "the first Immigration Border Patrolman", Jeff Milton (left) poses outside the Birdcage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona. Milton became a Texas Ranger in 1879 and later joined the U.S. Immigration Service, retiring in 1932. Milton died at his home in 1947 and according to his wishes, his ashes were scattered in the Arizona desert.
Customs violations and intercepting communications to "the enemy" seemed to be of a greater concern than enforcing immigration regulations in the early years of the twentieth century. Agencies charged with inspecting people and goods entering and leaving the U.S. noticed that their efforts were totally ineffective without border enforcement between inspection stations. After 1917, a higher head tax and literacy requirement imposed for entry prompted more people to try to enter illegally.
In 1918, Supervising Inspector Frank W. Berkshire wrote to the Commissioner-General of Immigration expressing his concerns about the lack of a coordinated, adequate effort to enforce immigration and customs laws along the border with Mexico.
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the importation, transport, manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages went into effect at midnight on January 16, 1920. With the passage of this constitutional amendment and the numerical limits placed on immigration to the United States by the Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924, border enforcement received renewed attention from the government. The numerical limitations resulted in people from around the world to try illegal entry if attempts to enter legally failed. Therefore, the mission of the Border Patrol became more important to the U.S. Government.
These events set the wheels of change into motion. On May 28, 1924, Congress passed the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924, officially establishing the U.S. Border Patrol for the purpose of securing the borders between inspection stations. In 1925 its duties were expanded to patrol the seacoast.
Officers were quickly recruited for the new positions. The Border Patrol expanded to 450 officers. Many of the early agents were recruited from organizations such as the Texas Rangers, local sheriffs and deputies, and appointees from the Civil Service Register of Railroad Mail Clerks.
The government initially provided the agents a badge and revolver. Recruits furnished their own horse and saddle, but Washington supplied oats and hay for the horses and a $1,680 annual salary for the agents. The agents did not have uniforms until 1928.
In 1932 the Border Patrol was placed under the authority of two directors, one in charge of the Mexican border office in El Paso, the other in charge of the Canadian border office in Detroit. Liquor smuggling was a major concern because it too often accompanied alien smuggling. The majority of the Border Patrol was assigned to the Canadian border. Smuggling was commonplace along the Mexican border also. Whiskey bootleggers avoided the bridges and slipped their forbidden cargo across the Rio Grande by way of pack mules along the Southern border.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt combined the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization into the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1933. The first Border Patrol Academy opened as a training school at Camp Chigas, El Paso, in December 1934. Thirty-four trainees attended classes in marksmanship and horsemanship.
Although horses remained the transportation of choice for many years, by 1935, the Border Patrol began using motorized vehicles with radios. Rugged terrain and the need for quick, quiet transportation guaranteed that horses would remain essential transportation to the Patrol even to the present day.
The workload and accomplishments of the Patrol remained fairly constant until 1940, when the Immigration Service was moved from the Department of Labor to the Department of Justice. An additional 712 agents and 57 auxiliary personnel brought the force to 1,531 officers. Over 1,400 people were employed by the Border Patrol in law enforcement and civilian positions by the end of WWII. During the war, the Patrol provided tighter control of the border, manned alien detention camps, guarded diplomats, and assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in searching for Axis saboteurs. Aircraft proved extremely effective and became an integral part of operations.
Legislation in 1952 codified and carried forward the essential elements of the 1917 and 1924 acts. The same year, Border Patrol agents were first permitted to board and search a conveyance for illegal immigrants anywhere in the United States. For the first time, illegal entrants traveling within the country were subject to arrest.
As illegal immigration continued along the Mexican border, sixty-two Canadian border units were transferred south for a large-scale repatriation effort. In 1952, the government airlifted 52,000 illegal immigrants back to the Mexican interior. The program was terminated after it ran out of funds during its first year. The Mexican government offered train rides into the Mexican interior for nationals being returned from the San Antonio and Los Angeles districts, but this program was halted after only five months. Throughout the early 1950s, a special task force of 800 Border Patrol agents was assigned by the United States Attorney General to round up and ship home thousands of illegal immigrants in southern California. The task force moved to the lower Rio Grande Valley, then to Chicago and other interior cities. The Border Patrol began expelling adult Mexican males by boatlift from Port Isabel, Texas, to Vera Cruz in September 1954. The project was discontinued two years later after nearly 50,000 illegal aliens had been returned home. Various other flights, train trips, and bus trips originated along the border and terminated in the Mexican interior. In spite of the major successes in repatriation, many deportees simply turned around and recrossed the seriously undermanned border. Repatriation programs proved extremely expensive and were phased out primarily because of cost.
Significant numbers of illegal aliens began entering the U.S. on private aircraft in the late 1950s. In cooperation with other federal services, the Border Patrol began tracking suspect flights. During the Cuban missile crisis of the early 1960s, Cuban defectors living in Florida flew aircraft out over the ocean in an effort to harass their former homeland. The American government made this harassment illegal, and assigned the Border Patrol to prevent unauthorized flights. The Patrol added 155 officers, but discharged 122 of them when the crisis ended in 1963.
The early 1960s also witnessed aircraft-hijacking attempts and President John F. Kennedy ordered Border Patrol agents to accompany domestic flights to prevent takeovers. The Miami Sector of the Border Patrol coordinated the effort. By that time the business of alien smuggling began to involve drug smuggling also. The Border Patrol assisted other agencies in intercepting illegal drugs from Mexico.
The 1980s and 1990s saw a tremendous increase of illegal migration to America. The Border Patrol responded with increases in manpower and the implementation of modern technology. Infrared night-vision scopes, seismic sensors, and a modern computer processing system helped the Patrol locate, apprehend, and process those crossing into the U.S. illegally.
In an effort to bring a level of control to the border, Operation "Hold the Line" was established in 1993 in El Paso, and proved an immediate success. Agents and technology were concentrated in specific areas, providing a "show of force" to potential illegal border crossers. The drastic reduction in apprehensions prompted the Border Patrol to undertake a full-scale effort in San Diego, California, which accounted for more than half of illegal entries. Operation "Gatekeeper" was implemented in 1994, and reduced illegal entries in San Diego by more than 75% over the next few years. A defined national strategic plan was introduced alongside Operation Gatekeeper and set out a plan of action for the Border Patrol into the future. With illegal entries at a more manageable level, the Patrol was able to concentrate on other areas, such as establishing anti-smuggling units and search and rescue teams such as BORSTAR. The Border Safety Initiative (BSI) was created in 1998 with a commitment by the Border Patrol and the promised cooperation of the Mexican government.
Homeland security became a primary concern of the nation after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Border security became a topic of increased interest in Washington. Funding requests and enforcement proposals were reconsidered as lawmakers began reassessing how our nation's borders must be monitored and protected. On March 1, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established, and the U.S. Border Patrol became part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component of DHS.
The U.S. Border Patrol continues its efforts to control our nation's borders. The 21st century promises to provide enormous leaps in technology that can be applied to border enforcement. The modernization of the Patrol advances at a dizzying rate as new generations of agents develop innovative ways to integrate the contemporary technology into field operations. New and specialized technology is being created within the Border Patrol that holds increasing potential to assist agents in fulfilling the mission of the Patrol. Additionally, cooperation with neighboring countries increases border safety and law enforcement efforts. The future of the U.S. Border Patrol promises to be as exciting and interesting as its past, and will continue to echo the motto that agents have lived by since 1924.
Honor First.
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