Which was the first sector?
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The Border Patrol was established in 1924 with an initial structure of 32 sub-districts, which would later evolve into modern-day Sectors. Formed under the Department of Labor, the Border Patrol became a part of the Bureau of Immigration, which in turn operated under the decentralized Immigration Service. This service divided the United States into 35 immigration districts, with many districts further split into sub-districts.
In 1924, 11 districts with their 32 associated sub-districts were situated along the international borders and received new Border Patrol personnel. Over time, these sub-districts underwent changes, eventually transforming into the contemporary Sectors. As a result, the USBP's inception saw the formation of not just two, but 32 "Sectors."
For more information, visit The Great Sector and Station Debate: Myths vs. Facts in Border Patrol History on This Week in USBP History, Vol. 102.
See this document (pg. 93-94), this document and this document.
In 1924, 11 districts with their 32 associated sub-districts were situated along the international borders and received new Border Patrol personnel. Over time, these sub-districts underwent changes, eventually transforming into the contemporary Sectors. As a result, the USBP's inception saw the formation of not just two, but 32 "Sectors."
For more information, visit The Great Sector and Station Debate: Myths vs. Facts in Border Patrol History on This Week in USBP History, Vol. 102.
See this document (pg. 93-94), this document and this document.
The Border Districts and Sub-districts in 1924
Districts |
Sub-districts |
District #1 - Montreal, Canada |
Vanceboro, ME Rouses Point, NY Ogdensburg, NY |
District #5 - Buffalo, NY |
Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY |
District #10 - Jacksonville, FL |
Jacksonville, FL Miami, FL Tampa, FL |
District #11 - Detroit, MI |
Marine City, MI Detroit, MI Wyandotte, MI |
District #18 - Grand Forks, ND |
Duluth, MN International Falls, MN Noyes, MN Portal, ND |
District #22 - San Antonio, TX |
Brownsville, TX Laredo, TX Del Rio, TX San Antonio, TX |
District #25 - El Paso, TX |
Marfa, TX El Paso, TX Nogales, AZ |
District #26 - Spokane, WA |
Scobey, MT Havre, MT |
District #28 - Seattle, WA |
Lynden, WA Marcus, WA |
District #31 - Los Angeles, CA |
Escondido, CA Campo, CA Indio, CA El Centro, CA Yuma, AZ |
District #35 - Galveston, TX |
Galveston, TX |
Evolution of USBP Sectors / Sub-districts
The table below uses reports collected from the National Archives to identify the locations of the early sub-districts and to trace them to the modern sectors.
The years are also links to the reference documents.
The years are also links to the reference documents.
Modern |
|||||
Houlton, ME |
Houlton, ME |
Houlton, ME |
Houlton, ME |
Vanceboro, ME |
Vanceboro, ME |
Swanton, VT |
Derby Line, VT Rouses Point, NY Massena, NY |
Newport, VT Rouses Point, NY Massena, NY |
Newport, VT Rouses Point, NY Massena, NY |
Newport, VT Rouses Point, NY Ogdensburg, NY |
Rouses Point, NY Ogdensburg, NY |
Buffalo, NY |
Buffalo, NY |
Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY |
Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY |
Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY |
Buffalo, NY Niagara Falls, NY |
Detroit, MI |
Marine City, MI Detroit, MI |
Toledo, OH Marine City, MI Detroit, MI Sault St. Marie, MI |
Marine City, MI Detroit, MI |
Detroit, MI |
Marine City, MI Detroit, MI Wyandotte, MI |
Grand Forks, ND |
International Falls, MN Pembina, ND Kenmare, ND |
International Falls, MN Pembina, ND Kenmare, ND |
International Falls, MN Pembina, ND Kenmare, ND |
International Falls, MN Pembina, ND Kenmare, ND |
Duluth, MN International Falls, MN Noyes, MN Portal, ND |
Havre, MT |
Havre, MT |
Scobey, MT Sweetgrass, MT |
Scobey, MT Havre, MT |
Scobey, MT |
Scobey, MT Havre, MT |
Spokane, WA |
Bonners Ferry, ID |
Bonners Ferry, ID Marcus, WA |
Bonners Ferry, ID Marcus, WA |
Marcus, WA |
Marcus, WA |
Blaine, WA |
Lynden, WA |
Lynden, WA |
Lynden, WA |
Lynden, WA |
Lynden, WA |
Ramey, PR |
Not established |
Not established |
Not established |
Not established |
Not established |
Miami, FL |
Miami, FL Tampa, FL |
Jacksonville, FL Tallahassee, FL West Palm Beach, FL Tampa. FL |
Orlando, FL Gainesville, FL |
Miami, FL Tampa, FL |
Jacksonville, FL Miami, FL Tampa, FL |
New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans, LA |
Not established |
Rio Grande Valley, TX |
Brownsville, TX |
Brownsville, TX |
Brownsville, TX |
Brownsville, TX |
Brownsville, TX Galveston, TX |
Laredo, TX |
Laredo, TX |
San Antonio, TX Laredo, TX |
San Antonio, TX Laredo, TX |
San Antonio, TX Laredo, TX |
San Antonio, TX Laredo, TX |
Del Rio, TX |
Del Rio, TX |
Del Rio, TX |
Del Rio, TX |
Eagle Pass, TX Del Rio, TX |
Eagle Pass, TX Del Rio, TX |
Big Bend, TX |
Alpine, TX |
Marfa, TX |
Marfa, TX |
Marfa, TX |
Marfa, TX |
El Paso, TX |
El Paso, TX |
El Paso, TX |
El Paso, TX |
El Paso, TX |
El Paso, TX |
Tuscan, AZ |
Tuscan, AZ |
Tuscan, AZ |
Nogales, AZ |
Nogales, AZ |
Nogales, AZ |
Yuma, AZ |
No entry |
No entry |
No entry |
No entry |
Yuma, AZ |
El Centro, CA |
El Centro, CA |
El Centro, CA |
El Centro, CA |
El Centro, CA |
El Centro, CA Indio, CA |
San Diego, CA |
Chula Vista, CA |
Chula Vista, CA |
San Diego, CA |
San Diego, CA |
Escondido, CA Campo, CA |
