[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10939]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      ``HONOR FIRST:'' COMMEMORATING THE 84TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                   ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BORDER PATROL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2008

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 84th birthday of 
the United States Border Patrol.
  Next Wednesday, May 28, 2008, we will be commemorating the 
establishment of the United States Border Patrol, which began as the 
Patrol Inspectors in El Paso, Texas. The Border Patrol began under the 
Bureau of Immigration, then became a part of the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service. Since the creation of the Department of 
Homeland Security in 2003, the Border Patrol has become an integral 
part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  Today, the Border Patrol is led by my friend and former colleague, 
Chief David V. Aguilar. Under his strong direction and leadership, the 
Border Patrol has grown to over 16,000 agents stationed throughout the 
Nation's southern, northern, and coastal borders.
  Guided by their national strategy, with the proper mix of manpower, 
technology, and infrastructure, the Border Patrol's primary goal is to 
gain and maintain operational control of our borders. Agents protect 
and defend the United States by preventing the smuggling of illicit 
materials, and surreptitious entry of persons into the United States. 
Last year alone, the Border Patrol arrested over 876,000 persons 
illegally entering or already present in the United States, and seized 
over 1.8 million pounds of marijuana and 14,000 pounds of cocaine.
  Today, the Border Patrol uses state of the art technologies to aid in 
the performance of their duties. Infrared cameras, remote video 
surveillance, unattended underground sensors, and ground radar support 
their national strategy. Their special response teams and tactical 
units are specially trained for domestic and international emergencies 
and they have search, trauma, and rescue teams that provide 
humanitarian and rescue capabilities and perform countless rescues each 
year. The Border Patrol's mission is also supported by air and marine 
assets and personnel from CBP Air and Marine.
  Before coming to Congress, I was honored to serve as a Border Patrol 
agent for 26\1/2\ years, of which 13 were spent as sector chief in 
McAllen and, then, in my home district of El Paso, Texas. My time in 
the Border Patrol gave me firsthand knowledge of the vigilance and 
dedication that are constantly required of these agents. The task of 
protecting our Nation's borders is no small charge.
  Sadly, over the years, the Border Patrol has lost 105 men and women 
who courageously served our country. Let us take a moment to remember 
these brave men and women and honor their sacrifice.
  The Border Patrol lives by their motto ``Honor First''; so today. I 
ask that we honor the men and women in green for the work they have 
done and the sacrifices they have made.

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