Washington - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin announced today that Michael J. Fisher will assume the role as Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. In his new position, Michael Fisher is the nation's highest-ranking Border Patrol agent, and directs the enforcement efforts of more than 20,000 Border Patrol agents responsible for patrolling our nation's borders between the official ports-of-entry. Prior to his appointment, Chief Fisher served as the Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego, California Sector.
"Chief Fisher is seen as an innovative leader among his peers and highly respected within the law enforcement community," Commissioner Bersin said. "CBP is fortunate to have an agent of Chief Fisher's caliber and career experience to undertake the important leadership role of the United States Border Patrol."
The Border Patrol's priority mission is keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. It also has the responsibility for protecting the country from all-threats while enforcing U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws.
"I am honored and look forward to the opportunity in continuing to work with the outstanding men and women of the United States Border Patrol as we maintain and expand effective control of our nation's borders," said Michael Fisher.
Michael Fisher started his duty along the Southwest Border in 1987 in Douglas, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has held a wide range of supervisory and leadership positions at Border Patrol Sectors around the country.
In 2007, Michael Fisher was selected as Chief Patrol agent of the San Diego Sector. During the transition to the Department of Homeland Security in March of 2003, he was assigned as the Deputy Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Anti-Terrorism in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he staffed and directed the office during periods of increased threat and was CBP's liaison to the inter-agency intelligence community for anti-terrorist planning and operations coordination.