By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio native Raul Ortiz made his first public appearance Thursday as the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol during the 2021 State of the Border presentation at the Del Rio Civic Center.
The event was hosted by the U.S. Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector and Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Austin L. Skero II.
“On behalf of myself and the 19,555 Border Patrol agents that we represent, we truly appreciate the partnerships we share with each and every one of you, whether you’re in law enforcement, in a political office or a member of the community. We are here to serve you, and I am honored to be back in my home town and to share the stage with Chief Skero,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz told the 100 people who attended the event that he wanted to speak about the “national-level issues that are occurring as well as the local and regional issues.” He said he also wanted to allow an opportunity for questions from the audience.
He pledged “to be as transparent as I possibly can.”
“I going to tell you from where I sit in Washington, D.C., what we’re working on and what we’re doing to try and improve the situation in our border communities,” Ortiz said.
To start his presentation, though, Ortiz confirmed that less than two hours before the start of the event, he had been asked to lead the U.S. Border Patrol, after serving as the agency’s deputy chief for 16 months.
Ortiz also served as chief patrol agent of the Del Rio Sector from 2019 to 2020.
“I never thought in a million years, I would have the opportunity to serve and lead such a fine organization,” Ortiz said.
“Being named the chief of the Border Patrol, I feel obligated, humbled and honored, not just to represent the agency, but to represent each of you, because I grew up just down the road from here, on Alta Vista,” he added.
Ortiz, who has served with the Border Patrol for just over 30 years, said he has worked all over the southwest border, as well as serving with the agency overseas and in Washington.
“I am going to do everything I can to advocate for all of you,” he said.
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