The Trenton Station was first activated under the operational jurisdiction of the Sibley sub-Sector Headquarters at Sibley, Michigan, during the organizational period of June to August 1924. The sub-Sector was to function under the jurisdictional guidance of a newly organized Sector Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The earliest known complement assigned to the new sub-Sector consisted of 25 officers.

During the late 1920’s and through the 1930’s and 40’s, the majority of patrol operations were conducted by two-man teams of Patrol Inspectors “walking a beat” on the riverfront. Teams were assigned “beats” of several miles, depending on number and variety of establishments and terrain in the areas. Areas that were more distant were patrolled largely by motorcycle and later by a limited number of patrol cars.

Until late 1963, the Trenton Station was located in a small, one room office facility that belonged to the Trenton VFW. The Station moved to a Trenton suburb known as Brownstown Township in December 1963. This Agency-owned facility, which is still serving as Trenton Station, was built using a template that was used for Border Patrol Stations all across the northern border.

The Trenton Station’s area has traditionally been comprised of the southeastern border of the state of Michigan. It has also been involved operationally in 28 counties in Ohio, approximately the entire northwestern 1/4 of the state, although most duties have been conducted in the four Ohio counties touched by Lake Erie. The entire international border of the Trenton Station’s area of responsibility is water – either the Detroit River or Lake Erie. Where it is not heavily industrialized or populated, the land is largely flat and low lying, with many rivers, streams and inlets, as well as marshland.