see also: in July 2004:   Spanish Port of Algeciras 21st Container Security Initiative Port to go Operational   Thomson to Head CBP's Office of International Affairs   Container Security Initiative (CSI) Achieves Major Milestone: 20 of the World's Largest Ports Now Participating with the U.S. in CSI   CBP Officers Seize Over 11 Tons Of Marijuana At Otay Mesa   Homeland Security Expands Efforts to Combat Human Smuggling in the Los Angeles Area   CBP Border Patrol Seize Over 200 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Two Separate Incidents   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Graduates First Class of CBP Agriculture Specialists ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Washington, DC – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced today that David Aguilar has assumed the role as Chief of the Border Patrol. In his new position, David Aguilar is the nation’s highest-ranking Border Patrol agent, and directs the enforcement efforts of more than 11,000 Border Patrol agents responsible for patrolling our nation’s borders between the official ports-of-entry. Prior to his appointment, Chief Aguilar served as the Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson, Arizona Sector.

“David Aguilar is a proven leader, he is committed to the goal of gaining stronger control of our borders, which while always important, is absolutely essential in the post 9-11 environment,” Commissioner Bonner stated. “As Chief of the Border Patrol, Chief Aguilar will build on the efforts of his predecessor, Gus De La Viña to effectively align the Border Patrol within the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the single agency to manage and secure our nation’s borders.”

The Border Patrol’s priority mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States by controlling the borders while maintaining its traditional mission of detecting, monitoring and deterring the illegal entry of aliens and narcotics between our nation’s ports-of-entry.

“I am honored and look forward to the opportunity of working with the outstanding men and women of the United States Border Patrol towards protecting our nation’s borders at this critical time in our country’s history,” said David Aguilar.

David Aguilar, 48, began his career with the Border Patrol in 1978 as an agent in Laredo, Texas.

Over the course of his career, he has held a wide range of supervisory and leadership positions at Border Patrol stations throughout Texas.

In 1999, David Aguilar was selected as Chief Patrol agent of the Tucson Sector. The Tucson Sector is responsible for patrolling nearly 300 miles of international border and currently has more than 2,000 Border Patrol agents. In 1996, he served as the Assistant Regional Director for the Border Patrol in Dallas, Texas that had jurisdiction over more than 2,000 miles of international border along the nation’s northern and southern boundaries.

Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Aguilar and his wife Beatrice have three children.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation’s borders. CBP unifies Customs, Immigration and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.