Maine Border Patrol Agents Recognized for Efforts on Southwest Border

Houlton, Maine – On March 28, the Houlton Sector Mobile Response Team (MRT) was recognized for their efforts while deployed to the southwest border. Houlton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens presented letters of appreciation to the MRT members on behalf of Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony J. Porvaznik.

While deployed, the Houlton Sector MRT was assigned to the Yuma Sector Special Operations Detachment and conducted patrol, interdiction, and mobile field force operations. During the deployment, the Houlton Sector MRT was directly involved in the apprehension of hundreds of illegal border crossers, five vehicle seizures, and the arrests of five principals suspected of alien smuggling.

The Houlton Sector Mobile Response Team provides a group of organized, trained, and equipped Border Patrol Agents capable of rapid movement to regional or national incidents in support of priority U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations. With teams located throughout the country, the MRT provides a flexible and enhanced tiered-response to counter emerging, changing, and evolving threats in the most challenging operational areas along the borders.

“The MRT provides us with a group of highly motivated, trained and equipped agents who are willing to deploy anywhere in the country within 48 hours,” according to Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens. “Their efforts assisting with the national security and humanitarian crisis on the southwest border are certainly worthy of recognition.”

The Houlton Sector MRT was the first to be organized on the northern border and offers specialized skills in cold weather and marine environment operations.