May 26 - June 1Good morning! Welcome to another This Week in USBP History! This week in USBP history is particularly momentous as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Border Patrol. We honor a century of dedication, heroism, and evolution. Our journey through the past begins on May 28, 1924, when the Bureau of Immigration received funding to establish the Immigration Border Patrol. On May 29, 1926, a memo provided insight into the implementation of General Order 61, shaping our structure. On June 1, 1951, we recognize the initiation of "The Airlift" project, transporting illegal aliens into the interior of Mexico. In 1994, the Enforcement Case Tracking System (ENFORCE) was deployed in San Diego Sector, enhancing efficiency. On May 27, 2005, we reflect on the dedication of the Newton-Azrak Memorial at the U.S. Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, TX. By 2009, Chief David Aguilar became the first American law enforcement officer to keynote at a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cadet graduation. We honor the bravery and ultimate sacrifice of Agent Alexander I. Giannini (May 28, 2014) and Agent Juan M. Urrutia (May 28, 2021). Their dedication underscores the risks our agents endure. On May 30, 2022, we celebrate Border Patrol Agent Javier A. Padilla, awarded the Newton-Azrak Award for his life-saving actions during a car accident. Join us this week as we delve into these stories, celebrating a hundred years of the U.S. Border Patrol's dedication and evolution. Enjoy and have a great week! Cliff P.S. - As an open and continuous invitation to current and former USBP employees, I am always accepting photos to post in the USBP Photo Galleries and in the Upholding Honor First pages. I sure would appreciate you visiting those pages and sending me anything that you think I could post (just send them to [email protected]). As always, make sure to explore all of the hyperlinks to the documents and pages. Finally, please forward this blog to whomever you think may enjoy it. THIS WEEK'S USBP ANNIVERSARIES AND MILESTONESMay 26 On May 26, 1928, a report was written concerning a shooting that occurred in the Big Bend Sub-district involving Patrol Inspector Shellie Guy Barnes (1896-1964), a U.S. Customs officer and an alcohol smuggler. May 27 On May 27, 1922, the Commissioner-General wrote a short letter to future Chief and Father of the Border Patrol Frank Berkshire (1870-1934). The letter concerning a "conference on cooperation in border work".
As part of ceremonies commemorating the 75th Anniversary, the new flag of the United States Border Patrol was raised nationwide at all Border Patrol facilities at 1000 hours on May 27, 1999. (see below)
A Newton-Azrak Memorial was dedicated at the U.S. Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, TX, on May 27, 2005. During the dedication ceremony Harold Newton, brother of Theodore Newton, made the following statement;
May 28 On May 28, 1924, the Bureau of Immigration received funding through Public Law 68-153, an approved appropriations bill (page 240), to enhance its existing "land-border patrol" functions. The Immigration Border Patrol was established using this funding, an idea that had been proposed as early as 1914 as per this document. Prior to the move to Philadelphia, the INS’ Central Office and in turn, Border Patrol, were located in the Department of Labor Building at the corner of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, which was built in 1935. In the building’s northwest entrance lobby is a dimly lit memorial with the engraved names 33 officers of the INS that were killed in the line of duty between 1919 and 1940. Approved by Congress on May 28, 1936, under Joint Resolution 439, engraving of the memorial commenced shortly thereafter.
On May 28, 1974, “The U.S. Border Patrol celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Events are held at each of the Sectors to commemorate this milestone and all Border Patrol Agents are authorized to wear a 50th Anniversary tab below the U.S. Border Patrol patch on their uniform shirts. A 50th Anniversary Smith & Wesson USBP Model 66 .357 revolver is also commissioned. President Richard Nixon and Vice President Gerald Ford also recognized the 50th Anniversary with congratulatory letters, in which they both acknowledged “Honor First” as the watchword of the U.S. Border Patrol.”
On May 28, 1999, “The U.S. Border Patrol celebrates its 75th Anniversary with events across the 21 Sectors and highlighted by 75th Anniversary Observance and Awards Ceremony held in San Diego, California.
Line of Duty Death anniversary Alexander I. Giannini Date of Birth October 14, 1989 Entered on Duty: October 16, 2008 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 28, 2014 Details: On May 28, 2014, Border Patrol Agent Alexander I. Giannini, of the Willcox Station, was involved in an on-duty, single-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 near Benson, Arizona. He died of injuries at the hospital shortly after the accident. Another agent in the vehicle was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Agent Giannini, 24, entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on October 16, 2008, as a member of the 822nd session of the Border Patrol Academy. He served the Willcox Station loyally throughout his career. Agent Giannini is survived by his mother, father, sister and fiancée. Burial Details Unknown Line of Duty Death anniversary Juan M. Urrutia Date of Birth: July 28, 1975 Entered on Duty: August 4, 2003 Title: Border Patrol Agent End of Watch: May 28, 2021 Details: Agent Urrutia entered on duty on August 4, 2003, as part of the 560th Session of the Border Patrol Academy. He was first assigned to the Falfurrias Station in what was then called the McAllen Sector in Texas. The circumstances of his passing were reviewed by an executive panel and the CBP Commissioner who determined that this death occurred in the line of duty. At the time of his passing, he was assigned to the Brownsville Station, Rio Grande Valley Sector, Texas. He was also a certified EMT/Paramedic. He is survived by his wife: Shayla Lee Urrutia; Brothers: Martin J. Urrutia, Carlos Urrutia, David Urrutia: and his sisters; Juvita Urrutia and Maria Barron-Urrutia. Gravesite May 29 On May 29, 1926, the District Director for the Montreal District (District #1), Harry R. Landis (1880-1950), wrote a 5-page memo to the Commissioner-General concerning the newly disseminated General Order 61. Several items of interest are contained in the memo:
May 30 Line of Duty Death anniversary Benjamin T. Hill Date of Birth: October 23, 1901 Entered on Duty: May 14, 1929 Title: Patrol Inspector End of Watch: May 30, 1929 Historic documents of the shooting Details: Patrol Inspector Benjamin T. Hill was shot and killed near the international boundary, El Paso, Texas, on May 30, 1929, while pursuing a narcotics smuggler he had seen cross the Rio Grande River. While being pursued on foot through an alley, the smuggler suddenly wheeled and shot Inspector Hill through the heart, killing him instantly. Gravesite Newton-Azrak Award action anniversary Javier A. Padilla - award set 1, award set 2 Border Patrol Agent Tucson, Arizona On May 30, 2022, Border Patrol Agent (BPA) Javier Padilla was performing the duties of a Field Training Officer (FTO) for two BPA trainees in the vicinity of Amado, Arizona, when he observed a Chevrolet Trailblazer crash into a ditch. As Agent Padilla rushed to render aid, he realized there was a fire beneath the SUV and the doors had been rendered inoperable by the crash. Amid rapidly increasing heat and smoke, Agent Padilla led the effort to extract and relocate to safety a total of seven subjects seconds before the entire accident scene was engulfed in flames. Without his immediate and decisive action taken with no regard for his own safety, seven people would have perished. Border Patrol Agent Javier Padilla's courage and willingness to lay down his own life for others brought great credit upon himself and the United States Border Patrol. May 31 On May 31, 1933, a memo was written to the Commissioner-General. The memo is signed by "Acting Director of Border Patrol, Canadian Border District", Ruel Davenport.
The Border Patrol obtained its first OH-6A on May 31, 1979.
June 1 Beginning in June 1924, the eleven immigration districts that were on the borders began hiring Patrol Inspectors and promoting Immigrant Inspectors and designating them as Patrol Inspectors in Charge. See this 30-page file for some of the first people hired to be part of the Immigration Border Patrol.
June 1, 1925, “The Bureau of Immigration reported that the U.S. Border Patrol had 424 Patrol Inspectors on duty and 32 Patrol Inspectors in Charge.”
In June 1, 1951, the U.S. Border Patrol began a new initiative to transport illegal aliens into the interior of Mexico. Dubbed “The Airlift,” the Service contracted with “Flying Tiger Lines” to use “converted C-46 Troop Transports” to transport Mexican aliens to the interior of Mexico.
Operation Short Stop commenced on June 1, 1977, and was terminated on January 5, 1978. Operation Short Stop would become the model for future forward deployment and linewatch operations and the development of the Southwest Border Strategy. As part of Operation Shortstop, 100 Agents were deployed from other sectors to the Chula Vista Sector to enhance linewatch and checkpoint operations.
The Enforcement Case Tracking System (ENFORCE) would allow Agents to automate the preparation of paperwork necessary to process immigration cases. Previously, Agents had to rely on manual typewriters to enter the information or use “homemade” programs to automate the processing, but they were not standard from Sector to Sector. ENFORCE began being deployed in San Diego Sector on June 1, 1994, with four sites as the system pilot.
June 1, 2009, “Chief David Aguilar becomes the first American law enforcement officer or dignitary to be the keynote speaker at a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cadet graduation at the RCMP Depot (Academy), in Regina, Saskatchewan.”
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Clifford GillBlog author, retired U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief and, current U.S. Border Patrol employee advocate. Ray HarrisSite founder and owner, former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent and retired Immigration Special Agent. Joseph BancoU.S. Border Patrol historian and retired Deputy Chief Patrol Agent. Archives
February 2025
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