C.B.P. News Release

CBP Meets 18,000 Border Patrol Agent Hiring Commitment - Weeks Early

(Wednesday, December 17, 2008)

Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has met the goal of hiring 6,000 Border Patrol agents by year’s end. CBP reached its target weeks ahead of schedule and now employs more than 18,000 agents.

In May 2006, President George W. Bush set the goal of increasing the Border Patrol by 50 percent from its then 12,000 agents. Today, more than 18,000 agents are part of the Border Patrol, which guards the southwestern, northern, and coastal borders of the U.S. between the official ports of entry.

“I’m tremendously proud of all the hard work and determination put into recruiting, vetting, hiring and training these agents who will secure the nation’s borders,â€