This Week in USBP History, Vol. 4

9/26/2021

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September 26 - October 2

1918

On September 24, 1918, the "Big Bend District" informed the Frank Berkshire that help (manpower) was needed in enforce newly passed Passport Law, Executive Proclamation and regulations concerning the requirement of people to enter and exit the United Stated through a port-of-entry. On September 26, 1918, Supervising Inspector Berkshire recommended that Big Bend partner with the military in addressing the illegal crossings.

1924

On October 1, 1924, the acting head of the Montreal District, I.F. Wixon, wrote a scathing memo to the Commissioner-General. The Montreal District included modern day Houlton, Swanton and part of Buffalo Sectors. The first sentence is, "I find that the border patrol service in this District is a long ways from being up to standard, due principally to the fact that it has not been properly supervised." The memo contains recommendations that include having the workforce move from location to location to prevent smugglers from adapting to regular schedules.

1927

The concept of a Voluntary Return (VR) was introduced in 1918. However, it became official Immigration Service policy on September 26, 1927, when General Order 97 was implemented.

1936

See this organizational chart for the Immigration Border Patrol dated October 1, 1936. Although difficult to see, there are 11 Immigration Districts that are divided into 25 Sub-districts. Sector were called "Sub-districts" at the time.

1940

When the INS was transferred from the Department of Labor to the Department of Justice, all employee badges were changed. This document, signed on September 26, 1940, stated that the new badges had been order and were schedule to be delivered by November 4th. The document also discusses penalties for employees losing badges.

1962

Riots at the University of Mississippi - "On September 30, 1962, protests deteriorated into a riot, and Border Patrol agents <inspectors> worked through the night along side marshals and the National Guard to restore order." CBP source

2001

On September 26, 2001, the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry finalized the design of the "Badge, Identification, Tactical Unit (BORTAC), U.S. Border Patrol".

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This Week in USBP History, Vol. 3

9/19/2021

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September 19 - September 25

1918

This September 20, 1918 document summarizes a meeting where the enforcement of the Passport Act of 1918 and regulations of August 8, 1918 concerning passports and permits and, increase the amount of employees available to patrol the border. This meeting is part of the evolution that would lead to the creation of the Voluntary Return and the U.S. Border Patrol. Remember, by this time, Frank Berkshire had already submitted at least two proposals to create a Border Patrol. The following organizations were present in the meeting:
- State Department Secret Service
- State Department Foreign Permits Office
- Department of Justice Bureau of Investigation
- War Department Military Intelligence Office
- Department of Labor Bureau of Immigration

1929

See this 6 page PDF to see a cover memo and two sworn statements take from Border Patrol Inspectors concerning a gunfight that occurred on September 19, 1929.

1931

On September 21, 1931, eleven days after the implementation of the Border Patrol's second uniform policy (GO179), Ruel Davenport wrote this memo to the Commissioner-General concerning delays in the delivery of silver bullion or silver braid which was used as the rank insignia for Senior Patrol Inspectors. See this gif for the rank and time-in-service insignia of the time ( the images change @ every 5-7 seconds).

Newton-Azrak Award Actions

1992

William C. Spencer Jr.
Senior Patrol Agent
Buffalo Sector
On September 19, 1992, Senior Patrol Agent William C. Spencer Jr. performed a truly remarkable feat of strength, endurance, and bravery to rescue a woman who was seconds from drowning in the swift currents of the Niagara River at Buffalo. After noting the woman’s lack of effort to save herself, and when she slipped beneath the surface and returned in a face down position, Agent Spencer dove into the river, without a floatation device. He swam about 30 yards to her, raised her head out of the water, and administered resuscitation. Agent Spencer then had to support himself and the woman while ladders could be rigged by the Buffalo Fire Department for removal from the water.

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This Week in USBP History, Vol. 2

9/12/2021

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September 12 - September 18

1927

Organizationally, the USBP has always prided itself on its involvement in various activities not exactly aligned with its primary mission set. Examples are the thwarting an aircraft highjacking, providing assistance to the USMS during segregation issues, deploying to Los Angeles during the riots, etc, etc, etc... This September 17, 1927 document is the earliest example of which I have found where the USBP stepped out of its traditional role. In this case, Border Patrol Inspectors were making plans to provide security for Colonel C. Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis which was schedule to land in Tucson.

1942

USBP time-in-service insignia was implemented in 1928 with an amendment to the USBP's first Uniform Policy, General Order 42. By 1942, the old bars and stars embroidered insignia (the image changes every 7 seconds) were discontinued to the modern stars as is evident in this September 16, 1942 document.

1943

In 1924, the Bureau of Immigration had the United States decided into 35 immigration districts (See this document (pg. 93-94). Through the years, immigration districts were reduced in number and were renamed regions. Old timers from the INS days will remember INS regions. By the time the INS was abolished in 2003, there were three INS regions. This document from September 15, 1943, shows the reduction of INS immigration districts from 22 to 16.

1953

The concept of a border fence is nothing new. One of the earliest reports of a fence being built between the United States and Mexico was in Nogales in 1918. In 1927, District Director Grover Wilmoth wrote a proposal to build a 2-fence system in El Paso where one of the fences would be electrified. The next big push to build fence would occur in the early 1950's, both before and after Operation Wetback. This September 18, 1953 document is a fairly comprehensive plan discusses the building 26.4 miles of new fencing and 5.6 miles of reconstructed fence in the Chula Vista and El Centro Sectors.

Newton-Azrak Award Actions

2017

Felix A. Ortiz
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Rafael De Leon
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Juan Zuniga
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Alberto Lorona
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Victor H. Herrera
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Erik Herrera
Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
Reyes Fimbres
Border Patrol Agent - Intelligence
Blythe, California
Michael Rosamond
Supervisory Border Patrol Agent
Blythe, California
On September 13, 2017, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Arizona's La Paz County Sheriff s Office called requesting assistance. The Arizona Department of Public Safety had a subject being held at gunpoint subsequent to a traffic stop on Interstate 10 westbound at Mile Marker 57 in Arizona. Shots were fired at the trooper by the driver of a vehicle, who then fled the scene. The trooper remained on scene with one subject at gunpoint, unable to initiate pursuit of the fleeing vehicle. Agents from the Blythe Integrated Targeting Team (ITT) responded to the call for assistance.

Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Michael Rosamond assigned Blythe ITT agents to areas he believed the vehicle may be fleeing. Agent Rosamond witnessed a vehicle matching the description of the fleeing vehicle pass his position.

Agent Rosamond tried to initiate a vehicle stop; Border Patol Agents Juan Zuniga and Felix Ortiz assisted as secondary/backup agents. The driver failed to yield. Then, the vehicle began to pull to the shoulder, then slow rolled to a stop, in the westbound lanes. As the subject rolled to a stop, the driver exited the vehicle, shooting at the agents approximately four to five times. While under fire and with their vehicle being struck by gunfire, Agent Zuniga was able to return two rounds of fire. The driver fled toward the eastbound lanes on foot and hijacked a big-rig. Agents Zuniga and Ortiz continued the pursuit of the big-rig; Agent Rosamond remained with the vehicle and the driver of the big-rig to secure the scene as evidence.

As the driver was absconding in the hijacked big rig there was an exchange of gunfire with Border Patrol Agent Reyes Fimbres on the Exit 17 off-ramp.

Blythe ITT Border Patrol Agents Victor Herrera, Erik Herrera, Juan Zuniga, and Felix Ortiz experienced a further exchange of gunfire with the subject on Main Street in Quartzsite, Arizona. At this time the subject was driving the big-rig in reckless regard for public safety, creating the potential of injury, death and significant property destruction. Blythe ITT agents Rafael De Leon and Alberto Lorona arrived on scene to assist. After the final exchange of gunfire, the subject was in custody. Agents rendered first aid on the scene and Emergency Medical Service responded shortly thereafter. Despite their life-saving efforts, the subject succumbed to his injuries while in route to the hospital.

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This Week in USBP History, Vol. 1

9/5/2021

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September 5 - September 11

Documents
1930

A gunfight occurred in El Paso between three Border Patrol Inspectors and smugglers at the foot of Grama Street. No injuries reported in this 8 page document. It should be noted that the modern location where Grama St. meets East Paisano Drive, Paison Drive is approximately the boundary of the United States and Cordova Island (Mexico), until the mid-1960's.

1931

September 10, 1931, the second BP Uniform Policy, General Order 179, implemented. Much of the amendments the BP's first Uniform Policy, GO42 were incorporated. One point of interest in GO179 was that the Sam Brown belt colors were different for the northern border (black) and the southern border (cordovan).
- Like GO42, GO179 would also have many amendments (1932-1935) to the original policy:
  - 1932 - Double breasted coat authorized
  - 1934 – Trousers begin to be authorized over riding crops on the southern border.
  - 1935 – Double breasted leather coat authorized

1996 - Newton-Azrak Action

Richard B. Holmes
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Joseph E. Kempa
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Michael W. Richardson
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Andrew W. Schutt
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
Austin L. Skero II - photo
Border Patrol Agent
McAllen Sector
On September 10, 1996, agents from the Brownsville Station came under hostile fire while in performance of their assigned duties.  During the encounter, Agent Rodelfo Martinez was wounded on the right arm.  His fellow agents, Michael W. Richardson, Joseph E. Kempa, Andrew W. Schutt, Austin L. Skero II, and Richard B. Holmes, were performing line watch duties in an area along the Rio Grande River, approximately seven miles east of the Gateway International Port of Entry at Brownsville, Texas.  The agents were working an area notorious for illegal alien and narcotics smuggling.

The immediate actions of the agents involved in the fire fight resulted in saving Agent Martinez’s life and not allowing themselves to succumb to the hostilities brought against them during the exchange of gunfire.  These agents performed heroic and human acts during an emergency while under extreme stress and displayed exemplary courage under fire.

Agents Skero and Holmes were directly in line with the assailants, and Agents Kempa and Martinez and were initially pinned down by gunfire directed at Agents Kempa and Martinez.  Bullets were landing all around them in their semi-covered position; however, when the assailants directed their gunfire at Agents Richardson and Schutt, Agents Skero and Holmes, without regard for their personal safety, moved to assist Agents Martinez and Kempa.  Agent Holmes took up a position to protect Agents Martinez and Kempa.  He assisted Agent Kempa in administering first aid to Agent Martinez.  Agent Skero continued to engage the assailants who were still firing at Agents Richardson and Schutt.  After the shooting had stopped, Agent Skero returned to assist in administering first aid to Agent Martinez.

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This Week in USBP History, Vol. 4

September 26 - October 2

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 3

September 19 - September 25

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 2

September 12 - September 18

This Week in USBP History, Vol. 1

September 5 - September 11

Clifford Gill

Ray Harris

Joseph Banco

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