In a ceremony at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia, NM on April 12, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano delivered remarks to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Academy’s 1000^th graduating class of 45 agents. Accompanied by U.S. Customs and Borer Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Director Connie L. Patrick, Secretary Napolitano said, “Every day, the American people depend on the Border Patrol to keep our borders secure. Today, we have the largest, best trained, and best equipped Border Patrol we’ve had at any time in our nation’s history, and I’m proud of all the brave men and women who dedicate themselves to this important work.”

Acting Commissioner Aguilar added, “Our nation owes a great debt of gratitude to the men and women from the Academy, who, over the years, have prepared agents for the increasingly challenging and vital mission of securing our nation’s borders.”