For example, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, were tenant farmers in Orange County, California in 1944. They had just moved their family to Westminster, Calif., where they were told that their children were "too dark" to enroll in the local school; they were required to attend a "Mexican only" school. The Mendez family, along with other Hispanic families, waged a three-year court battle to change the discriminatory policies in Orange county. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Jewish American Congress and the Japanese American Citizens League all filed amicus (friend of the court) briefs. In the class action suit brought by the parents, the court ordered an injunction against the school districts' policy of segregating children of Mexican and Latin descent in separate elementary schools. The 1947 Mendez v. Westminster decision was the beginning of a movement that has promoted equal access to education. The courageous Hispanic parents who filed the court case are not household names, but they were integral to fundamental changes in the public education system.

Historically, there have been many examples of Hispanic leaders who played a major role in the quest for equal opportunity, better living conditions, education and who have motivated young people to pursue their dreams. Cesar Chavez, farm worker and labor organizer, improved the lives of thousands of Hispanic and Filipino farm laborers that suffered extreme hardship in the face of low wages and poor working conditions. Dr. Antonia Pantoja, educator and founder of Boricua College of New York, the first Hispanic college in New York City, personally motivated thousands of Hispanic youth to pursue their dreams of a college education. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female astronaut, served as a role model and a visionary to motivate young men and women to study science and engineering. Since 1991, she has been on two space flights, logging more than 480 hours in space. Willie Velazquez, co-founder of the National Council of La Raza and the Hispanic Voter Registration Project, encouraged millions of Hispanics to exercise their right to vote to bring change in their communities.

The CBP Officers and Border Patrol Agents of Hispanic heritage play a vital role in protecting our nation. Esther Esparza, Entry Specialist at the El Paso, Tex. field office, notes that, "CBP Hispanic employees are an invaluable asset regardless of the duties they perform. Our biculturalism promotes a greater understanding of the diverse people we encounter and work with along the southern border." For example, CBP Officer Jose E. Melendez-Perez was recognized by the Commissioner for his alertness in blocking the entry of a potential terrorist at the Orlando International Airport. The suspect was ultimately arrested in Afghanistan and is being held in custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

CBP Offficer Maria Esther Reyna, is another fine example of Hispanic employees protecting our homeland against terrorism. She was responsible for intercepting numerous inadmissible aliens, bearing fraudulent documents, prior to their arrival in the United States. She saved significant human and financial resources that would have been required to inspect, process, detain, and remove inadmissible aliens. CBP can also boast about the ingenuity of Raymond Pardo, Senior Inspection Specialist, for the design of an innovative and cost-effective technique to ensure container security and mitigate seal tampering opportunities. His technique, known throughout the maritime world as the "Pardo Hole," retrofits existing containers at the cost of drilling a single hole through locking hardware. The DHS is currently securing a patent on the methodology.

Another hero in the fight against illegal drug smuggling and terrorism is CBP Officer Domingo Cantu III, recently recognized for his exceptional enforcement contributions in the field. Officer Cantu was directly responsible for 21 drug seizures totaling nearly 438 kilograms of marijuana, 142 kilograms of cocaine, 31 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 2 kilograms of heroin. As the primary instructor for International Border Interdiction Training, he provided expertise in the application phase of the Passenger Interview and Vehicle Inspection Training, conducted at the Hidalgo/Pharr Port of Entry.

On July 1, 2004, Commissioner Bonner appointed David Aguilar as the new Chief of the Border Patrol to direct the enforcement efforts of 11,000 Border Patrol agents. Chief Aguilar, the highest ranking Hispanic in the Office of Border Patrol, came up through the ranks holding a variety of supervisory positions, while providing leadership in securing our borders for over twenty five years. He is a trusted spokesperson within the Hispanic community, communicating border-crossing policies that have a profound impact on Hispanic communities along the border.

Our CBP Border Patrol agents, the majority of whom are Hispanic, provide daily protection of our nation's borders from illegal entry. While performing their duties, they also prevent the deaths of men, women, and children who risk their lives in attempts to enter the United.States. CBP Officers and Border Patrol agents influence extends into surrounding communities, where they are engaged in community service and outreach initiatives for youth. Senior Border Patrol Agent, Brenda Alvarado, observes that, "Our contributions as Little League coaches, mentors, school volunteers, and our dedication to many community activities help to build stronger, better communities."

During Hispanic Heritage Month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will sponsor events that recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans. For information regarding local commemorative events, please contact your local EEO Officer or visit the EEO webpage on the Intranet.