see also: in July 2007 News Releases:   CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission   CBP Officers At El Paso Port Nab 50 Pounds Of Cocaine; Two Juveniles Taken Into Custody   CBP Border Patrol Agent Dies In the Line of Duty   Hong Kong to Scan U.S.-Bound Goods for Radiation as Part of Secure Freight Initiative   Border Patrol Assists in Third Canal Rescue in a Week   CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Wanted For Murder, Rape, Burglary   Operation Streamline Nets 1,200-Plus Prosecutions in Arizona ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now sending twice the number of newly graduated agents to southern border sectors starting this week as the agency works to add 6,000 agents by December 31, 2008.

The Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, N.M., graduated 36 agents today and 39 agents Monday as it begins graduating two classes a week versus one. This week’s graduates will be sent to San Diego, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso and Laredo Sectors.

"To our newly graduated agents I say welcome aboard," said W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "There is no more important duty than protecting the American people as you secure America’s borders. You are joining a team of more than 34,000 CBP personnel committed to this most important endeavor."

The academy currently consists of 81 task-based, practical-application training days designed to provide trainees a wide variety of skills and knowledge necessary to effectively perform the duties of a Border Patrol agent.

Through legal instruction, trainees learn the complex laws governing legal and illegal immigration and how to apply them. Firearms, driver training and physical techniques instructors teach trainees how to perform the essential law enforcement skills unique to the border security mission. The academy teaches defensive tactics, arrest techniques and provides use-of-force training to equip agents for dangerous border environments.

The Spanish language training is intense. New Border Patrol agents are required to learn a large amount of Spanish grammar and conversational skills in those 81 days. Upon graduation, trainees are able to safely conduct all facets of Border Patrol operations using the Spanish language. The training is dynamic and scenario based so that new agents are aware of the challenges they will face upon graduation.

To address the influx of newly graduated agents, CBP is revising post-academy curriculum to review and reinforce the critical elements of the academy's legal and Spanish courses and introduce trainees to emerging topics critical for agents to successfully operate in the field.

The academy basic training, post-academy classroom training and field training programs are compatible, enhancing each other with the single-minded goal of producing a highly trained agent. At the culmination of training in the field, new agents will be well trained and fully prepared to perform their duties.

CBP is on track to add an additional 2,500 agents in fiscal year 2007. The FY 2008 budget requests funding for an additional 3,000 agents, which would bring the total number of agents to more than 17,819 by the end of FY 2008. Currently, CBP has more than 13,700 Border Patrol agents.

By implementing the Secure Border Initiative, CBP is significantly strengthening border security by adding additional personnel, deploying technology and constructing infrastructure. Through SBI, CBP continues to enhance border security through a comprehensive approach of implementing innovative programs to include the expansion of expedited removal, Operation Streamline and Operation Jump Start. The integration of proven technology, tactical infrastructure and CBP’s increased ability to detain other-than-Mexican’s, provides Border Patrol agents additional tools that support the border security mission.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.