Over 375 Border Patrol agents have been assigned to various strategic locations along the northern border, which brings the total number of agents assigned along the U.S. border with Canada to 1,000. In addition to the extra agents, additional aircraft will provide air coverage across the northern border.

“Homeland security is our top priority,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert Bonner. “Customs and Border Protection has the front line responsibility for detecting terrorists and terrorists' weapons including weapons of mass destruction at our nation’s borders. The Border Patrol is an essential part of Customs and Border Protection and provides security against intrusions between our nation’s officials crossing points.

“Given the terrorist threat, we were clearly understaffed on the northern border. This is an important step in increasing security along our northern border and is necessary given the continuing threat of terrorism,” Bonner added.

These permanent positions were funded through the 2003 fiscal year budget passed by Congress. In May 2002, 245 Border Patrol agents were selected as part of the northern border fiscal year 2002 enhancements and the wartime supplemental appropriation. By the end of this year, approximately 1,000 Border Patrol agents will be permanently assigned to the northern border.

The Border Patrol was transferred from the former INS and became a division of Customs and Border Protection on March 1, 2003. Customs and Border Protection is a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security’s Border and Transportation Security Directorate. In addition to the Border Patrol, CBP unifies all of the Inspectors (Customs, Immigration and Agriculture) at the ports of entry of the United States, including all of the ports of entry. Currently, CBP has over 2,500 inspectors assigned to the northern border crossing points.