Introduction
Let me begin by saying that I have enjoyed working with Assistant Secretary-Designate Mike Garcia, and with Chief De La Viña, and the many others, including many at Customs, who have put in countless hours helping to make this transition as smooth as possible. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mike Garcia as we coordinate the law enforcement efforts of our two agencies in the new Department of Homeland Security. Our two agencies will be under the new Department's Border and Transportation Security Directorate.

Two days ago, - on March 1st, 2003, for the first time in the history of the United States, all border agencies of the United States Government were unified into one agency - the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection within the new Department of Homeland Security. For the first time, a single agency has responsibility for enforcing all laws at the border and for our Nation - protecting the perimeter of the United States - the border ports of entry and the vast areas between the ports of entry.

This is a change for the better, for we are now and will be better organized to fulfill our priority homeland security mission and that is nothing less than detecting and preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.

The United States Border Patrol is central to this mission.

I have worked with the Border Patrol for many years, but in the past few months I have learned a great deal more about the Border Patrol and its mission. I've had several meetings with Chief De La Viña, who I have asked to stay on as the Chief of the Border Patrol. Chief De La Viña will be and already is an important part of my leadership team at CBP. I've also had the opportunity over the last few weeks to visit and speak with the Border Patrol Sector Chiefs from across the country, as well as Border Patrol agents in San Diego and Nogales.

What has struck me during these visits is the sense of enthusiasm, duty, and dedication of everyone in the U.S. Border Patrol, its leaders, its agents and support personnel. The sector chiefs and agents understand the importance of their jobs and the importance of the priority homeland security mission. So do I. And I sensed a genuine enthusiasm by everyone I spoke to about the transition to the Department of Homeland Security - and becoming part of the Customs and Border Protection team.

As Commissioner, I will give the Border Patrol my full support for its important mission. I know the Border Patrol has done an extraordinary job - day and night - performing its mission at and near the borders of our country. I know that that mission has always been - and will continue to be a difficult one - and it is a law enforcement mission first and foremost. I believe that having the resources of the new Department, and the new Customs and Border Protection agency behind it, will enable Border Patrol agents and the Border Patrol to be even more effective and successful in performing their essential mission of protecting our Nation and enforcing the laws of the United States at our borders.

Each of the agencies that will make up the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection brings their own traditions and culture to this new agency. The Border Patrol has a proud and rich tradition of excellence in protecting our borders since it was officially established nearly 80 years ago. These are traditions of honor, integrity, sacrifice, and service to country. Many Border Patrol agents have made the ultimate sacrifice; they have given their lives in the line of duty, and those that have fallen should have a memorial here in Washington, here at their Headquarters. There is a memorial here for Customs officers who were killed in the line of duty. And I've told Chief De La Viña that there will be a memorial here for the Border Patrol agents who died in the line of duty, serving their nation.

One of the most impressive aspects of Border Patrol's history has been the Border Patrol's adaptability to meet changes in threats to our nation. Never has this ability been more important than now as we address the threats presented by international terrorists to America and the American people and, indeed, to our way of life.

The long and proud traditions of the Border Patrol are not ending. The Border Patrol is entering a new chapter in its impressive history - one in which its traditions, adaptability, and dedication to duty will be more important than ever.

We have a vast border with Canada and Mexico of over 6,000 miles and a long coastline facing two oceans. We need a strong and effective Border Patrol between our ports of entry to enforce the laws of the United States, to apprehend those who attempt to enter the United States illegally or attempt to bring in illegal drugs or other harmful substances. And we need the Border Patrol now more than ever to do all we can to make sure that terrorists and terrorists weapons, including even weapons of mass destruction, are not permitted to be smuggled into the United States between our ports of entry.

We need to have a Border Patrol with the necessary resources and equipment to protect our country. We need to make sure that the resources and personnel of the Border Patrol are deployed where they are needed and that they have the mobility to respond to terrorist threats as those threats evolve and as intelligence indicates.

This is an exciting time - one of change, but also one of great opportunity to take our combined skills and resources and make them work together more effectively and efficiently than ever as a team.

I am very privileged and proud to be a part of and, as Commissioner, to lead the Border Patrol. I welcome the Border Patrol to your new headquarters here at the Ronald Reagan Building - and I welcome the Border Patrol as an essential component of Customs and Border Protection and of the Department of Homeland Security.

May God bless you all, and may God bless America.