[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO HIPOLITO ACOSTA, DISTRICT DIRECTOR, USCIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today to extend my thanks and 
gratttude to Hipolito Acosta for his service to Houston, Texas and the 
United States as District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services office during the last three years and his 24 
years serving our country.
  A native Texan, Mr. Acosta was born in Presidio, Texas and started 
his career with USCIS as a U.S. Border Patrol Officer in Marfa in 1975. 
Throughout his career he has received numerous awards as well as 
international recognition for his leadership in customer service and 
enforcement duties. He is a four-year Navy Veteran and a former member 
of the Illinois National Guard. He is also one of the most highly 
honored legacy INS officers, including six Commissioner Awards and the 
prestigious Newton-Azrak Award for courage and heroism displayed in the 
line of duty.
  His domestic career included front line and leadership roles in the 
fight against alien smuggling in key positions such as Criminal 
Investigator in Chicago, Special Agent with the EI Paso District and 
Border Patrol Sector, and as Supervisory Special Agent in Brownsville, 
Texas. High profile investigations and successful undercover operations 
involving thousands of smuggled aliens from Central America, Europe and 
the Middle East were trademarks of his investigative career.
  In 1989, Mr. Acosta was selected as Assistant Officer in Charge of 
INS operations in Manila, Philippines, assuming command of the office 
in February 1991. During his tenure in the Philippines, Mr. Acosta 
developed relations with host country government officials, to include 
the Office of the President and was one of six U.S. diplomats to 
receive high recognition by President Corazon Aquino. While in Manila, 
he developed the first ever citizenship program for thousands of 
Philippine World War II veterans. He was highly recognized as the 
driving force in the citizenship program abroad with the naturalization 
of over 7,000 applicants.
  Following his tenure in the Philippines, Mr. Acosta was appointed to 
Officer in Charge in Monterrey and Ciudad Juarez. Later, as District 
Director for the INS Mexico City Office, he was responsible for 
overseeing sixteen different offices in Latin America and the Caribbean 
with operational jurisdiction over 42 countries, including a pre-
inspection station in Aruba and refugee office in Havana, Cuba. In 
2002, Mr. Acosta returned to Texas and assumed leadership of the INS 
Houston District and then became the first District Director of the 
U.S. Customs and Immigration Service in Houston.
  I commend Mr. Acosta for his service to the United States and 
congratulate him on his retirement.