[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 166 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2272-E2273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THEODORE L. NEWTON, JR. AND GEORGE F. AZRAK BORDER PATROL STATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2007

  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, ``We cannot dedicate . . . we cannot 
consecrate . . . we cannot hallow . . . this ground. The brave men, 
living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our 
poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long 
remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. 
It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the 
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly 
advanced.''
  The words of Abraham Lincoln hold as much meaning today as they did 
when he spoke to them in Gettysburg in 1863. Today we remember two men 
who gave their lives for our protection. Border Patrol agents Theodore 
L. Newton, Jr., and George F. Azrak, are 2 of the 104 Customs and 
Border Patrol agents who have been killed in the line of duty.
  Madam Speaker, today we will have the opportunity to honor the lives 
of two brave public servants when we vote to designate the United 
States Border Patrol Station in Murrieta, CA, as the ``Theodore L. 
Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station.''
  Border Patrol agents Newton and Azrak selflessly gave their lives in 
the line of duty. During their patrol on the morning of June 17, 1967, 
Agents Newton and Azrak stopped an old military ambulance at a 
checkpoint, and inside the vehicle, they found 800 pounds of marijuana. 
There were two men in the ambulance and two in a car following behind, 
all were convicted felons and all were well armed. The four armed men 
overpowered the two agents and forced them to drive to a remote cabin 
where they handcuffed and murdered Agents Newton and Azrak. Over 400 
law enforcement agents and volunteers searched the remote terrain for 2 
days before the agents were finally found.
  The murders of Agents Newton and Azrak prompted the Border Patrol to 
adopt new safety measures--including increasing manpower, adopting more 
up-to-date technology and implementing a new policy requiring at least 
three agents and a backup unit to work at each checkpoint--to ensure 
that this terrible incident would not be repeated.
  United States Customs and Border Patrol agents have a long history of 
working thanklessly to make our country safer. Every day they protect 
our borders against terrorism and, when needed, step in to assist in 
the face of national disasters. Just last week, San Diego area CBP 
personnel were deployed to assist in wildfire emergency response.
  However, it has not been tradition to name Border Patrol stations 
after people; they are instead named for location. Undoubtedly, the

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Newton-Azrak Station will continue to be referred to by its Murrieta 
location, but its official title will be the ``Theodore L. Newton, Jr., 
and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station,'' in honor of the heroes who 
gave their lives for the safety of others.
  As we honor and remember the fallen agents, I would like to thank all 
of our Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection personnel 
for their service and commitment to the safety and security of all 
Americans.

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