As one of nine Border Patrol Sectors located along the United States southwest border, the Rio Grande Valley Sector serves to protect its citizens from terrorists and terrorist weapons illegally entering the United States by securing our borders with the right mixture of proven technology, enhanced infrastructure, and personnel. The Sector has six stations located on the border, two stations that staff strategically placed traffic checkpoints and one coastal station responsible for backup of the checkpoints and marine operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande Valley Sector operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is committed to protecting our Nation's borders.
Rio Grande Valley - Texas Sector History/Information
History
The Border Patrol had its start in the Rio Grande Valley area in 1921 with four officers assigned to Hidalgo, two to Brownsville and two to Rio Grande City, Texas. In 1923, additional officers were assigned to Alice, Harlingen, Kingsville and Mission. From its inception and until about 1938 Sector Headquarters was located at Brownsville, Texas.
In 1938, Sector Headquarters was moved to leased space in McAllen, Texas, and in 1941, the land and buildings were purchased from the City of McAllen for $5,000. The original building was removed and a new building constructed upon the same site in 1972. On March 22, 2005, the McAllen Sector name was officially changed to Rio Grande Valley Sector. On January 30, 2006, Rio Grande Valley Sector relocated to its new state-of-the-art building at 4400 South Expressway 281 in Edinburg, Texas.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector now has nine stations, two checkpoints, air and marine operations and an intelligence office. Rio Grande Valley Sector agents patrol over 320 river miles, 250 coastal miles and 19 counties equating to over 17,000 square miles.
The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector challenge coin has an abundance of symbolism that highlights the uniqueness of the sector and pays tribute to some of the United States Border Patrol's rich traditions.
The lighthouse pictured on the front is located in Port Isabel, Texas, along the Gulf Coast. This local landmark is featured on the coin as it highlights our responsibility to secure our coastal border. RGV Sector is unique in that it is responsible for 316 river miles along the Rio Grande and 317 miles of coast along the Gulf of Mexico. No other sector has a river as the international boundary and a coastal responsibility as well. The lighthouse is also symbolic of the vigilance with which RGV Sector agents watch over and protect this great Nation. As a lighthouse stands as a beacon to safely guide ships at night, RGV Sector agents stand as beacons of our Nation's security and freedom.
The bovine is a Santa Gertrudis bull. The Santa Gertrudis was the first breed developed in the Western Hemisphere. Experimental crossbreeding of the Brahman and Shorthorn cattle began on the Santa Gertrudis Division of the King Ranch, which is in RGV Sector's area of responsibility. The Santa Gertrudis bull was bred to thrive in the harsh weather and terrain of South Texas. By that same token, RGV Sector agents are well-trained and well-equipped to excel, in that same harsh environment, in protecting our Nation from all threats and in preventing the smuggling of humans and narcotics.
Additionally, the boat highlights our coastal and river responsibility as well as one of the many resources used by agents to accomplish the Border Patrol's mission of preventing terrorists and their weapons, including weapons of mass destruction, from entering the United States.
On the reverse side of the coin, the horses are symbolic of one of the Border Patrol's oldest and proudest traditions. In an effort to enhance our ability to secure the border, RGV Sector recently reinstated a Horse Patrol program. Horses are a valuable addition to RGV Sector because they have the ability to go into areas where vehicles cannot, thereby increasing our ability to more effectively patrol the border and thwart criminal activity. In addition, the horses are symbolic of the sector's motto "Leading the Charge."
The words "Leading the Charge" emphasize that RGV Sector leads the nation in many areas, not only operationally and statistically, but also in enthusiasm, esprit de corps and innovation. RGV Sector has long been among the top sectors for narcotics seizures and illegal alien apprehensions. The sector has a strong reputation for excellence and dedication to duty that is known throughout the Border Patrol.
