LAREDO, Texas – On August 28, 2017, Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector deployed to the Houston area to assist in life preservation and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The deployment of Border Patrol assets to Houston is a coordinated effort between numerous federal, state and local agencies to assist those impacted by Hurricane Harvey which made land fall over the weekend.
Marine vessels deployed, include Airboats and Riverine Shallow Draft Vessels. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo Sector Marine Unit and the Special Operations Detachment Unit which specialize in search and rescue efforts were also deployed. Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector have integrated efforts with Border Patrol assets across the country to assist in search and rescue operations in the Houston area.
In 2005, Border Patrol agents were also deployed to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The United States Border Patrol has and will continue to stand ready to deploy to areas hit by natural disasters to provide assistance to those communities.