http://www.americanpatrol.com/CBP/PRESS ... gents.html




Press Release
Posted by AP December 7, 2005

Contact: CBP Office of Public Affairs at (202) 344-1780 or www.cbp.gov

DHS Announces CBP Border Patrol Agent Deployment Schedule

Washington, D.C. -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced today the fiscal year 2006 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agent deployment schedule. In a significant increase in personnel, an additional 1,700 CBP Border Patrol agents will be assigned to the southwest border.

"A key element of our new Secure Border Initiative is more Border Patrol boots on the ground in the most heavily trafficked areas of the southwest border," said Secretary Chertoff. "By increasing the number of agents on the frontlines of our border, and giving them better infrastructure and technology to do their jobs, we will be able to greatly increase interdictions and create a strong deterrent to illegal crossings."

The 1,700 additional CBP Border Patrol agents will deploy to the following states along the 2,000-mile southwest border:

Arizona 643 agents
Texas 452 agents
California 352 agents
New Mexico 253 agents
"This additional agent staffing to the southwest border, between the ports of entry, will have immediate impact in securing our country from the threat of terrorism while improving the quality of life of communities along the border," said David Aguilar, CBP's National Chief of Border Patrol.

The 2006 Appropriations Bill and the 2005 Emergency War Supplemental Act authorized an additional 1,500 CBP Border Patrol agents. CBP Border Patrol will deploy 1,700 agents to factor in attrition. There are currently 479 new Border Patrol agents in training at the CBP Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.