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US Border Patrol Tactical Unit US Department of State Mobile Security Division |
US Border Patrol Tactical UnitBORTAC US Border Patrol Tactical Unit
The Border Patrol (USBP or BP), as the mobile uniformed branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), has as its mission the detection and prevention of smuggling and illegal entry of aliens into the United States, with primary responsibility between the Ports-of-Entry.
Patrol Agents perform their duties along, and in the vicinity of, the 8,000 miles of United States boundaries. Agents patrol by means of automobile, boat, aircraft, horseback, snowmobile, motorcycle, bicycle and afoot.
To help it execute the missions it is tasked with performing, the US Border Patrol maintains several tactical units, located at various locations throughout the US. These units operate under the direct control of the Headquarters, Special Response Teams, located in Washington, DC. BORTAC is the BP's national level tactical unit.
The stated mission of the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Team is " to provide the Immigration and Naturalization Service with a specially trained and equipped tactical unit to address unusual situations within the service by use of special techniques. This team has deployment capability to any location on short notice."
The unit was first formed in 1984 to deal with disturbances occurring within INS detention facilities, but this mission is now handled by INS Detention and Deportation division's Tactical Intervention And Control (TIAC) teams. Since its inception BORTAC has steadily expanded its scope and mission capabilities, and is now a rapid response unit capable of executing both foreign and national level domestic operations.
Over the last decade or so, BORTAC has conducted several high-risk operations, and has operated extensively overseas. Some of these operations have included providing support to counter-narcotics operations conducted by the US Department of State, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other Federal law enforcement organizations. During counter narcotics operations in South America, such as Operation Blast Furnace, the unit has operated in conjunction with the DEA's "Snow Cap" teams. BORTAC has also provided assistance to the US Bureau of Prisons during large scale inmate disturbances and riots. During one such operation BORTAC, along with several FBI SWAT teams, the US Marshal's Service Special Operations Group (SOG), and US Army special operations units, successfully restored order at the US Penitentiary, Atlanta (USPA) after Cuban inmates there rioted. In addition they have operated with, or received training from the US Coast Guard's now disbanded Drug Interdiction Assist Team (DIAT), US military special operations forces (SOF) such as the US Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces, and elite police and military units of several foreign nations. BORTAC was also deployed to Los Angeles in 1992, to help restore order after rioting broke in the wake of a not guilty verdict during a trial involving whit e police officers accused of beating a black motorist.
The latest high profile operation undertaken by BORTAC occurred in April of 2000. Code named Operation Reunion, a team of BORTAC operators was tasked with executing a raid to ensure the safe the return of Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez to his father. During the operation BORTAC, and several other INS tactical units, executed an early morning warrant on the home of Gonzalez's Miami relatives. Despite the huge amount of negative publicity generated by the raid, and complaints of excessive force being used by the BORTAC entry team, the unit showed a large amount of restraint considering the amount of resistance they faced. The team successfully entered the home, removed the child, exited the area, and safely returned the child to his natural father, all without firing a shot.
BORTAC headquarters is collocated with its training unit at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. The BORTAC training unit is currently responsible for conducting all INS tactical team training. In addition the unit also provides specialist training to other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. As part of a joint Department of State/ Department of Justice training program, BORTAC has also provided tactical team and counter narcotics training to several foreign governments police, paramilitary, tactical, drug, and specialist units, including the El Salvadoran National Police's Grupo de Respuesta Policial (GRP) tactical unit.
The five week BORTAC basic training course is considered one of the most difficult and arduous training courses in civilian law enforcement. Qualified BP personnel may volunteer for the unit. After an initial screening process, which includes a strenuous physical fitness test, prospective BORTAC operators are scheduled to attend the next BORTAC Basic Training Session. The course covers such diverse subjects as operations planning, land navigation, patrolling, tactical tracking, rappelling and fast roping, close quarters battle (CQB), riot control techniques, defensive tactics, drown proofing, trauma medicine, combat firearms, and air assault operations.
As proof of the difficulty in obtaining a spot on the team, and completing the initial training course graphically displayed in July of 1999, when BORTAC Basic Training Class XI graduated. The original group of BP agents applying for BORTAC membership consisted of one hundred men, of this group sixty were eliminated during the initial physical fitness test. Of the forty remaining agents, thirty-eight reported for training, with twelve actually completing the entire course.
Because of its national and international responsibilities BORTAC is authorized a wide range of weapons systems not normally available to other BP personnel. The following is a partial list of the approved specialized weapons available for use by BORTAC: Barreta 96D 40 cal. Brigadier Service Pistol, Heckler & Koch (HK) USP40, SIG- Sauer P229 DAO 9mm, Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun with 14" barrel, M4A1 carbine, M-16A1 or A2 5.56mm rifle, M-14 7.62mm rifle, HK UMP40 .40 cal SMG, Remington 700 .308 rifle, Remington M40 XBKS .308 rifle, M-79 40mm grenade launcher (GL), M-203 40mm GL, 37 mm gas guns, HK MP5 A2 or A3 9mm SMG, HK 33A2 rifle, HK53 A2 or A3 rifle, and the Steyr SSG rifle. The Remington shotguns have been specially modified by Scattergun Technologies.
When conducting operations BORTAC personnel normally wear OG-1O7 uniforms, or sage green flight suits with a subdued BP patch sewn on. Each team member is also equipped with a Kevlar ballistic helmet, and an armored assault vest. Boots worn by individual team members depend on the operators personal preference.
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