U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Securing America's Borders
CBP Information Center
Operation Jump Start - CBP Border Patrol and the National Guard
What is CBP Operation Jump Start?
On May 15, President Bush addressed the nation regarding border security and immigration reform. As an immediate step to support CBP Border Patrol's efforts, the President called for up to 6,000 National Guard members to assist with surveillance, installing fences and vehicle barriers, as well as provide training. This support mission, Operation Jump Start, will provide significant assistance to securing the southern U.S. border during the next two years.
Timeline
CBP Border Patrol and the National Guard coordinated with the state governors and adjutants general to deploy National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol operations. This unprecedented cooperative effort has resulted in the deployment of 6,000 National Guard personnel to California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Deployment numbers are based on operational need and threat.
This two-year deployment supplements and supports current efforts while CBP hires and trains 6,000 additional Border Patrol agents and implements the Secure Border Initiative and SBInet.
Badges Back to the Border
National Guard units assist CBP by executing logistical and administrative support, operating detection systems, providing mobile communications, augmenting border-related intelligence analysis efforts, and building and installing border security infrastructure.
Operation Jump Start relieves Border Patrol agents from non-law enforcement duties, allowing them to focus on border security. To
date more than 350 Border Patrol agents have been able to return to traditional frontline duties due to the presence of the Guard.
On the Ground
National Guard members working in Del Rio Sector rescued a Central American woman who was drowning in the Rio Grande River on August 1. Two Texas guard members working in an entry identification capacity nearby responded to the call for assistance. Disregarding their own safety, the guardsmen jumped into the water to save the drowning woman, pulling her from the depths of the muddy Rio Grande River.
National Guard members assigned to operate a remote video surveillance system worked with Border Patrol agents to seize more than 287 pounds of cocaine Aug. 9. A guard member operating the cameras was able to identify two individuals transporting four large military-style duffle bags across the Rio Grande in a boat and shortly after, a sport utility vehicle entered the area where the boat made landfall. Border Patrol agents responded and located the vehicle and seized four duffle bags of cocaine weighing over 287 pounds, valued at $9.2 million.
National Guard members assisting in the Yuma, Ariz. sector alerted Border Patrol agents that there were two individuals on a trail along the Colorado River. Once apprehended, the pair revealed that there were three others in the vicinity that were suffering from heat exhaustion. An air search located the three, finding two to be severely dehydrated. One was airlifted to the hospital and another transported by ambulance. All survived and were charged with immigration violations.
Operation Jump Start Successes
Alien Apprehensions: 5,003
Vehicle Seizures: 110
Marijuana Seizures (lbs.): 28,577
Cocaine Seizures (lbs.): 1,447
Currency Seizures: $11,052
Alien Rescues: 31
(Statistics from June 15 through August 15, 2006)
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Updated 07/10/2018 01:04 PM
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