[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3912-H3913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING AUSTIN SKERO UPON HIS RETIREMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Tony Gonzales) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Del Rio Border Patrol Sector Chief Austin Skero, who is retiring from 
Border Patrol at the end of July after a more than 30-year career in 
law enforcement.
  Chief Skero has honorably served 26 years with Customs and Border 
Protection, beginning his career in 1995 in the Rio Grande Valley 
sector. Throughout his time with CBP, he has served Border Patrol in 
various roles across the Nation, from Washington, D.C., to Grand Forks, 
North Dakota.
  Chief Skero has led the Del Rio sector as chief since July 2020. He 
oversees 250 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, supervising 2,000 Border 
Patrol employees, 9 CBP stations, and 5 traffic checkpoints, and 
supporting 47 counties in Texas.
  Chief Skero's mission as sector chief has been especially challenging 
this year. Del Rio currently is the eye of the storm as we tackle this 
southern border crisis. Over the last year, Chief Skero has led Del 
Rio Border Patrol agents through one of the largest spikes in migrant 
traffic in United States history.

  This has been no easy task. Del Rio is the second most trafficked 
sector on the U.S.-Mexico border. Agents are apprehending an average of 
a thousand migrants per day, some who surrender willingly and others 
who try their hardest to avoid being caught.
  Last month alone, Chief Skero's sector saw over 30,000 migrant 
apprehensions, a 700 percent increase from the previous year. In Del 
Rio, over 700 human smuggling cases have been prosecuted, and sex 
offender apprehensions are up 1,400 percent.
  Apprehensions on trains in Uvalde are up 900 percent, and it is 
estimated that cartels make $25 million a week in the Del Rio sector 
alone simply by trafficking people.
  When agents are not in the field securing our borders, their 
dedicated work to ensure our migrants are protected has not gone 
unnoticed. Using the sector's limited resources to deal with many 
dimensions of the crisis has shown exemplary leadership from Chief 
Skero. Chief Skero has met and surpassed those expectations.
  He has had the responsibility of briefing political figures from 
every corner of the Nation and every party on what is happening at our 
southern border.
  I am incredibly grateful for Chief Skero's leadership, especially 
during this historic and difficult time for our border communities and 
our Border Patrol agents. His hard work and commitment have not gone 
unnoticed.
  Chief Skero has received several awards and commendations throughout 
his career, including Border Patrol's highest award for heroism and 
valor, the Newton-Azrak Award. While we will miss his direction and 
guidance, I know his retirement is more than well-earned.
  Chief Skero has lived a life driven by service to our community. The 
Del Rio border sector, our border communities, Texas, and our country 
are safer because of his leadership and work at the southern border.
  Angel and I wish him and his wife, Chandra, all the best as they 
enter this next phase of their life.
  I thank Chief Skero personally for all the direction and guidance he 
has given in this very difficult time. He has been at the forefront of 
this effort, at the

[[Page H3913]]

forefront of this storm, and I am so grateful for the Border Patrol 
leading this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish Chief Skero a wonderful retirement. It is well-
deserved.

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