Zipperman Scholars Visit Tucson Sector Border Patrol Headquarters

November 1, 2010

On Friday October 29, 2010 25-Zipperman Scholars visited the Tucson Sector Border Patrol Headquarters.

During the morning briefing and demonstration, students were given an overview of the Border Patrol and their use of technology in both the field and at headquarters. In addition, students learned about career opportunities available within the Border Patrol.

The Tucson Sector is the busiest sector on the Southwest Border and it is a very unique station. It is considered a linewatch station, responsible to patrol the border east and west of Sasabe, Arizona. Because it is located 68 miles north of the international border, it is also considered an interior station with responsibility for the vast majority of Pima County.

It covers most of the State of Arizona from the New Mexico State line to the Yuma County line. This area covers a total of 262 border miles and they have one of the highest illegal alien apprehensions and marijuana seizures in the country. Currently there are over 2,900 agents working the eight stations in Tucson Sector.

The Tucson Sector is made up of eight stations that are broken down into three corridors. These eight stations are located in Ajo, Casa Grande, Tucson, Nogales, Willcox, Sonoita, Naco, and Douglas.

The Tucson Station was established on July 1, 1924 with two inspectors. Personnel levels were increased to six inspectors on July 1, 1926 when the Sector Headquarters moved from Nogales to Tucson. Tucson was originally established as a support station until it acquired 27 miles of international boundary in 1954 and 40 additional miles in 1977.

We wish to thank all of the Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents who took time out of their busy schedule to present and demonstrate technology to the students.

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