By jumping into and stopping an abandoned van traveling backward into the flow of traffic, Lee was credited with protecting citizens and fellow officers. For her quick and selfless actions and her willingness to sacrifice her own safety to protect others, Agent Lee earned a special award. She overcame a leg injury suffered during the incident to return to patrol duty within two weeks.

The incident began the morning of February 24 when a citizen alerted the Border Patrol Criminal Alien Apprehension Team (CAAT) that a Plymouth Voyager was being loaded with suspected illegal aliens approximately one mile northeast of the Otay Mesa, Calif., port of entry, just below San Diego. The area abuts an open field that is frequently used by alien smugglers as a pick-up point to load and transport illegal aliens farther into the interior of the country. The CAAT agents, who drive unmarked vehicles and work in plain clothes, responded, as did Border Patrol Agent Lee and Senior Patrol Agent John Wallace in marked units. The units were observing and following the van, waiting for the right time to move in and apprehend the group.

Agents Lee and Wallace turned on their emergency lights and sirens to signal the van driver to pull over. The van initially slowed and pulled toward the shoulder, but then abruptly it re-entered traffic lanes and accelerated. Agents Lee and Wallace fell in behind the Plymouth in pursuit. After a short chase, the van moved up the entry ramp to I-805 North and again pulled over and came to a stop. The van doors had been opened and it appeared that the occupants might attempt to “run for it.” Agent Wallace pulled his car alongside to prevent the occupants from bailing out into the now heavy traffic.

The driver abruptly turned the steering wheel in the direction of Agent Wallace’s vehicle, gunned the engine and rammed the car. The perpetrator then jumped out of the van and ran, leaving the door open and the transmission in gear. The van began to roll backward into dense rush-hour traffic. Agent Lee, recognizing the danger, jumped out of her vehicle, ran to and leaped into the moving van, stopped it and placed it in “park.”

Inside the van were three Mexican nationals who were illegally in the country. The driver of the van, who was also an illegal alien, was apprehended and indicated that he had been paid to transport the aliens to a predetermined location.

Sector Chief Darryl E. Griffen praised Border Patrol Agent Lee at an awards program on May 13, where she received the Chief’s Commendation Award for her bravery. “This incident is an example of the risks that are inherent in the day-to-day work of CBP Border Patrol agents and of the quick thinking necessary to meet the challenge,” said Chief Griffin.