see also: in November 2005 Press Releases:   CBP Air, Border Patrol Win 2005 USIC Awards   CBP Warns Consumers About Unsafe Toys and Counterfeit Products   Aduanas y Proteccion Fronteriza Recomiendan Tramitar con Tiempo Permiso I-94 Durante Epoca Decembrina   CBP Urges Mexican Holiday Travelers to Apply Early for I-94 Documents   U. S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Nearly 2 Kilos of Cocaine at Newark Liberty International Airport   Calexico Port of Entry to Process I-94 Permits for Mexican Holiday Travelers Immediately   Puerto de Calexico Procesara Permisos I-94 de Manera Expedita a Viajeros Durante Epoca Navideña ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Southern New Mexico – Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Lewis, Washington, were deployed for the last 30 days in southern New Mexico to provide surveillance support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector.

“The Border Patrol and Joint Task Force North have developed an outstanding relationship and have been working together for many years,” stated David Aguilar, National Chief of the Border Patrol. “Working together on support missions is mutually beneficial to both agencies. As we continue to focus on our anti-terrorism efforts in securing our Nation’s borders, support operations such as the Stryker mission provide the Border Patrol with specific expertise and capabilities that simultaneously provides military personnel with invaluable desert environment training opportunities.”

The mission enables the soldiers to employ their high technology surveillance equipment in direct support of the CBP Border Patrol's efforts to secure the nation's borders. In addition, the mission will afford the unit with an opportunity to train at one of the U.S. Army's premier training facilities.

The military personnel who perform homeland security support missions within the Continental United States operate strictly in a support role. Federal law prohibits the use of active duty and reserve military personnel in a direct law enforcement capacity.

Joint Task Force (JTF) North, an element of U.S. Northern Command, coordinates and manages military homeland security support provided to the nation's federal law enforcement agencies for the interdiction of suspected transnational threats within and along the approaches to the Continental United States.

JTF North routinely provides support to CBP Border Patrol sectors along both the southern and northern borders of the United States. Since its inception in 1989, JTF North has executed over 5,900 missions in direct support of the nation's law enforcement agencies. Based on operational security restrictions and force protection measures, the exact dates and locations of the operation are not being released.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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.