Full History Of United States Border Patrol In Timeline From 1904

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1904: Mounted Watchmen Patrolling

As early as 1904, mounted watchmen of the United States Department of Commerce and Labor patrolled the border to prevent illegal crossings, though these efforts were irregular and depended on available resources. These inspectors, often called "mounted guards," operated out of El Paso, Texas, patrolling as far west as California to restrict illegal Chinese immigration, although their numbers never exceeded 75.

March 1915: Authorization of Mounted Guards

In March 1915, Congress authorized a separate group of mounted guards, often referred to as "mounted inspectors." While most rode on horseback, some used automobiles, motorcycles, and boats. They largely pursued Chinese aliens trying to avoid the National Origins Act and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

May 26, 1924: Formation of the U.S. Border Patrol

On May 26, 1924, the National Origins Act authorized the formation of the U.S. Border Patrol.

June 1924: First Border Patrol Station Opens

In June 1924, the first Border Patrol station began operations in Detroit, Michigan.

July 1924: Second Border Patrol Station Opens

In July 1924, the second Border Patrol station began operations in El Paso, Texas.

1925: Coastal Patrols Begin

In 1925, coastal patrols began as part of the Border Patrol's operations.

1927: Gulf Coast Operations Established

In 1927, operations were established along the Gulf Coast to ensure that foreign crewmen departed on the same ship on which they arrived.

1932: Border Patrol Divided

In 1932, the Border Patrol was divided into two offices, with Mexican border operations directed from El Paso, Texas, and Canadian border operations directed from Detroit, Michigan.

1933: Formation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Executive Order 6166 formed the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) by consolidating the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization.

1940: Border Patrol Staffing Doubles

In 1940, following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Border Patrol staffing doubled to 1,500, and the INS was moved from the Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Justice.

November 1, 1965: Founding of the National Border Patrol Council

The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), the labor union representing over 17,000 Border Patrol agents and support staff, was founded on November 1, 1965. Its parent organization is the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL–CIO.

1986: Immigration Reform and Control Act

In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act placed renewed emphasis on controlling illegal immigration by targeting employers who hire illegal aliens, leading the Border Patrol to increase interior enforcement and Form I-9 audits of businesses through "employer sanctions".

1992: Border Patrol Agent Numbers

In 1992, the United States Border Patrol had approximately 4,139 patrol agents.

1993: Proposition 187 in California

By 1993, Californians passed Proposition 187, denying benefits to illegal aliens and criminalizing illegal aliens in possession of forged green cards, identification cards, and Social Security numbers. It also authorized police officers to question non-nationals as to their immigration status and required police and sheriff departments to cooperate and report illegal aliens to the INS. Proposition 187 drew nationwide attention to illegal immigration.

1995: Attrition Rate Increase

From 1995 to 2001, the annual attrition rate in the Border Patrol rose above 10%, during a period of massive hiring.

1996: Human rights violations reported by Amnesty International

In 1998, Amnesty International reported indications of human rights violations during 1996, 1997, and early 1998 by officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and particularly the Border Patrol.

1996: Increase in complaints to the INS

In December 1997, John Case announced public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region. 1996 marks a lower number of complaints compared to 1997.

1996: Increase in public complaints against INS

In December 1997, the INS announced public complaints had risen 29% since 1996. This announcement follows the compilation of the statistics for the 1996 year.

December 1997: INS announces increase in public complaints

In December 1997, John Case, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region. Serious allegations of abuse were down in 1997.

1997: Human rights violations reported by Amnesty International

In 1998, Amnesty International reported indications of human rights violations during 1996, 1997, and early 1998 by officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and particularly the Border Patrol.

1998: Article in Social Justice cites INS complaints

An article in Social Justice by Michael Huspek, Leticia Jimenez, Roberto Martinez (1998) cites that in December 1997, John Case, head of the INS Office of Internal Audit, announced at a press conference that public complaints to the INS had risen 29% from 1996, with the "vast majority" of complaints emanating from the southwest border region.

1998: Amnesty International investigates allegations of ill-treatment and brutality

In 1998, Amnesty International investigated allegations of ill-treatment and brutality by officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and particularly the Border Patrol.

September 11, 2001: Border Patrol Under Homeland Security

In the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Border Patrol was placed under the umbrella of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with the added mission of preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.

2001: Attrition Rate Increase

From 1995 to 2001, the annual attrition rate in the Border Patrol rose above 10%, during a period of massive hiring.

2001: Canada-United States Border Patrol

In 2001, the Border Patrol had approximately 324 agents assigned along the Canada–United States border.

2002: Attrition Rate Peak

In 2002, the attrition rate in the Border Patrol climbed to 18%, largely attributed to agents transferring to the Federal Air Marshals after 9/11.

March 2003: Decommissioning of the INS

In March 2003, the INS was decommissioned, and its operations were divided between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

December 17, 2004: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act

On December 17, 2004, President Bush signed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, authorizing the hiring of an additional 10,000 agents, nearly doubling the Border Patrol size from 11,000 to 20,000 agents by 2010, subject to appropriation.

November 2005: Updated National Strategy Published

In November 2005, the U.S. Border Patrol published an updated national strategy with the goal of operational control of the United States border. The strategy has five main objectives.

October 26, 2006: Secure Fence Act Signed

On October 26, 2006, President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act, which has faced significant opposition, mandating the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the United States-Mexico border by December 2008.

2006: Corruption among CBP officers

According to Reveal News, between 2006 and 2016 more than 130 officers employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection were caught in alleged acts of mission-compromising corruption. This corruption often involved letting drugs, undocumented immigrants, or both into the country.

2006: Article in Houston Journal of International Law requests independent review commission

In 2006, Jesus A. Trevino published an article in the Houston Journal of International Law requesting the creation of an independent review commission to oversee the actions of the Border Patrol, in order to make the public aware of abuse at the border and to ensure that illegal immigrants receive the same humane treatment as citizens and legal residents.

2006: Relinquishing Littoral Law Enforcement Missions

Since 2006, the U.S. Border Patrol has relinquished its littoral law enforcement missions in the Great Lakes and territorial seas to the Office of Air and Marine.

October 2007: Opposition to Secure Fence Act

In October 2007, environmental groups and concerned citizens filed a restraining order to halt the construction of the fence mandated by the Secure Fence Act between the United States and Mexico.

2007: Creation of Special Operations Group

In 2007, the U.S. Border Patrol created the special operations group (SOG) headquartered in El Paso, Texas, to coordinate the special operations units of the agency.

December 2008: Secure Fence Act Deadline

The Secure Fence Act, signed in 2006, mandated that the fence be built by December 2008.

2008: Northern Border Staffing Increase

By the end of fiscal year 2008, Northern border staffing had been increased by 1,128 agents to 1,470 agents.

2008: No More Deaths interviews with illegal aliens in Border Patrol custody

From 2008 to 2011, the Arizona organization No More Deaths interviewed nearly 13,000 illegal aliens who had been in Border Patrol custody, in the Arizona border towns of Naco, Nogales, and Agua Prieta. Their report, A Culture of Cruelty, documents alleged abuses. 2008 marks the start of this activity.

2008: Landowner Concerns over Border Fence

In 2008, property owners in areas along the border feared a loss of land due to the construction of the border fence. Brownsville mayor Pat Ahumada suggested widening and deepening the Rio Grande as a natural barrier.

2009: Projected Expansion

By the end of fiscal year 2009, the Northern Border staffing was projected to expand to 1,845 agents, a six-fold increase from 2001.

2009: Creation of Border Patrol Marine Position

In 2009, the Border Patrol Marine Position (BPA-M) was created.

2009: Founding of the Border Patrol Foundation

The Border Patrol Foundation was founded in 2009 to assist the survivors of agents killed in the line of duty. The foundation provides financial support to immediate family members, peer family support, and a scholarship to eligible children.

May 2010: Death of Hernández-Rojas in custody

In May 2010, Hernández-Rojas died after being beaten and while in custody of the USBP, ICE, and CBP.

2010: Increased migrant deaths in Border Patrol custody

According to the ACLU of Texas, between 2010 and December 13, 2021, there were 46 migrant deaths while in the custody of the Border Patrol. 2010 marks the start of this period with an increased number of deaths.

2010: Border Patrol Size Increase

By 2010, the Border Patrol size nearly doubled, growing from 11,000 to 20,000 agents due to the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.

2011: Alleged excessive use of force by Border Patrol agents

Between 2010 and 2011, alleged excessive use of force by Border Patrol agents and Field Operations officers led to the death of six Mexican citizens.

2011: Report on alleged abuses in Border Patrol custody

From 2008 to 2011, the Arizona organization No More Deaths interviewed nearly 13,000 illegal aliens who had been in Border Patrol custody, in the Arizona border towns of Naco, Nogales, and Agua Prieta. Their report, A Culture of Cruelty, documents alleged abuses including denial of or insufficient water and food; failure to provide medical treatment; verbal, physical and psychological abuse; separation of family members; and dangerous repatriation practices. The report was conducted in 2011.

February 2012: Border Patrol chief's testimony on abuse allegations

In February 2012, Border Patrol chief Michael Fisher stated in congressional testimony that the Border Patrol takes allegations of abuse seriously.

March 2012: No More Deaths testimony before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights

In March 2012, No More Deaths testified before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights that despite raising concerns for several years, the Border Patrol agency has taken the position that such abuses simply do not occur.

July 2012: PBS report on excessive use of force by Border Patrol agents

A PBS report, Crossing the Line, was released in July 2012. The report profiled the case of Hernández-Rojas who died after being beaten and while in custody of the USBP, ICE, and CBP in May 2010.

2015: Rejection of Body Cameras

In 2015, the Border Patrol rejected equipping agents with body cameras due to concerns about cost, agent morale, and reliability. However, they were outfitted with body cameras after public criticism in 2021.

2016: Border Patrol Demographics

According to 2016 data, Latinos constitute slightly more than 50% of the Border Patrol.

2016: Continued corruption among CBP officers

According to Reveal News, between 2006 and 2016 more than 130 officers employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection were caught in alleged acts of mission-compromising corruption. This corruption often involved letting drugs, undocumented immigrants, or both into the country.

2016: Demographics of Border Patrol Agents

As of 2016, roughly half of the Border Patrol agents are Latino Americans, and the Border Patrol has the lowest proportion of female agents or officers of any federal agency.

2017: Border Patrol Budget

For the fiscal year 2017, Congress enacted a budget of $3,805,253,000 for the Border Patrol.

2017: Attrition Rate

In 2017, the attrition rate in the Border Patrol was at 6%.

June 7, 2018: Border Patrol agents board Greyhound bus without authorization

On June 7, 2018, United States Border Patrol agents stopped and boarded a Greyhound bus at an agricultural checkpoint near the Nevada State Line. The agents lacked the authorization to stop the bus or interrogate passengers. A passenger notified the other passengers that the United States Border Patrol agents were not supposed to be stopping the bus or conducting interrogations. The agents left the bus after a short argument. The passenger who argued with the agents started an online petition on change.org titled "Greyhound: Stop endangering migrants" as a warning for passengers against unauthorised searches by agents of DHS, ICE, and United States Border Patrol.

September 2018: Alien deaths in U.S. Border Patrol custody

Between September 2018 and September 2019, ten aliens died in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol or its parent agency. September 2018 marks the beginning of this period where the recorded deaths happened.

2018: Allegations of Border Patrol destroying water and food supplies

In 2018, activists alleged that water and food supplies left for illegal aliens were regularly destroyed by the Border Patrol.

September 2019: Alien deaths in U.S. Border Patrol custody

Between September 2018 and September 2019, ten aliens died in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol or its parent agency. By September 2019, ten deaths in custody were recorded.

2019: Border Patrol Agents

For fiscal year 2019, the nationwide total of Border Patrol agents was 19,648, with 16,731 patrolling the southern border, primarily the Mexico–United States border, controlling drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

2019: Border Patrol employees posting inappropriate content in Facebook group

In 2019, U.S. Border Patrol supervisors discovered many employees posting inappropriate content in a private Facebook group. The "group where agents posted sexist and callous references to migrants and the politicians who support them reinforced the perception that agents often view the vulnerable people in their care with frustration and contempt."

2019: Agents express feelings of being hated

In 2019, agents stated that "people actively hate us".

2019: Online petition against Greyhound Bus Lines

Protesters against Greyhound Bus Lines allowing the DHS and ICE agents to board the buses have posted an online petition titled "Greyhound: Stop Throwing Passengers Under the BUS" on the ACLU website, which gathered 111,895 signatures as of 2019.

February 21, 2020: Greyhound refuses unwarranted inspections

As of February 21, 2020 Greyhound refuses unwarranted inspections. A memo addressed to all chief patrol agents and signed by then-Border Patrol chief Carla Provost said agents can't board private buses without consent from bus companies.

2020: Retirement of Carla Provost

Carla Provost, the head of the agency at the time agents were posting innapropriate content on a facebook group, retired in 2020.

August 2021: Low morale among Border Patrol agents in Del Rio, Texas

According to a posting in Law Enforcement Today in August 2021, morale among Border Patrol agents was "in the toilet". In Del Rio, Texas, agents were overwhelmed with processing the large number of illegal aliens, leading to large stretches of the border being unpatrolled.

September 2021: Del Rio Incident

In September 2021, mounted Border Patrol agents in Del Rio, Texas, responded to an influx of refugees from Haiti crossing the Mexico–United States border. A photograph captured an agent appearing to use his bridle reins as a whip against a Haitian migrant, sparking controversy and promises of investigation.

October 2021: Human Rights Watch releases reports of mistreatment by Border Patrol agents

In October 2021, Human Rights Watch released reports by U.S. asylum officers detailing over 160 instances of mistreatment by Border Patrol agents, including physical and sexual assaults, abusive detention conditions, and violations of due process. In some cases, asylum officers apologized to the migrants for the treatment they received from the Border Patrol.

November 2021: OIG Declines to Investigate

In November 2021, The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) declined to investigate allegations against the mounted Border Patrol agents involved in the September 2021 incident in Del Rio, Texas.

December 13, 2021: Migrant deaths in Border Patrol custody

According to the ACLU of Texas, between 2010 and December 13, 2021, 46 migrants died while in Border Patrol custody, and 68 deaths resulted from Border Patrol-involved car chases.

2021: Border Patrol Outfitted with Body Cameras

In late 2021, after public criticism, the Border Patrol outfitted agents with body cameras, which it had rejected in 2015 as too expensive, bad for agent morale, and unreliable.

2022: Border Patrol Mission

In 2022, the United States Border Patrol's mission, according to its website, is to protect the American people, safeguard the borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity.

November 2025: ICE Leadership Shakeup

By November 2025, during the second Trump administration, at least half of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's top leadership had been fired or reassigned, and many were replaced with Border Patrol officials. Border Patrol agents deployed to urban areas throughout the country to assist with deportations, often being accused of using excessive force against protestors and bystanders.

History of United States Border Patrol in Timeline