Why is El Paso Station Called "Station One"?
The Immigration Service assigned both a number and a location name to each district and sub-district. Refer to this document (pages 93-94) for more information. Starting in 1926, with the enactment of General Order 61, sub-districts within each district were numbered consecutively, beginning with #1. This naming convention was also applied to stations. For instance, a station co-located with the sub-district headquarters would be designated as "Station #1." For example, in 1926, if an individual was instructed to report to District 25, Sub-district 2, Station 1, they would report to the El Paso District, El Paso Sub-district, at the El Paso-based station.
Between 1924 and 1956, the El Paso Sub-district and station shared a location at Camp Chigas. In 1956, a new sub-district facility was completed at 1401 S. Hammett Blvd. Although the Border Patrol has continued to refer to the El Paso Station as "Station One," the original rationale behind the name had been lost, leading to the misconception that it was the first Border Patrol station.
The Laredo Sector exemplifies this naming tradition, albeit referring to their locations as "bases" rather than "stations":
For more information, visit The Great Sector and Station Debate: Myths vs. Facts in Border Patrol History.
Between 1924 and 1956, the El Paso Sub-district and station shared a location at Camp Chigas. In 1956, a new sub-district facility was completed at 1401 S. Hammett Blvd. Although the Border Patrol has continued to refer to the El Paso Station as "Station One," the original rationale behind the name had been lost, leading to the misconception that it was the first Border Patrol station.
The Laredo Sector exemplifies this naming tradition, albeit referring to their locations as "bases" rather than "stations":
- Base 1 – Laredo Sector Headquarters
- Base 2 – Laredo North Station
- Base 3 - Presumed to have been the Anti-Smuggling Unit, which merged into ICE in 2003
- Base 4 - Cotulla Station
- Base 5 - Hebbronville Station
- Base 6 - Freer Station
- Base 7 – Laredo South Station
- Base 8 - Laredo West Station
- Base 9 - Zapata Station
- Base 10 – San Antonio Station
For more information, visit The Great Sector and Station Debate: Myths vs. Facts in Border Patrol History.
