U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas published a statement through the Department of Homeland Security regarding the announcement of U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul L. Ortiz's retirement.
Mayorkas said Ortiz used his leadership skills and operational expertise to benefit the agency, the department and the U.S., according to a May 30 news release.
“Chief Ortiz has been a great leader of the men and women of the United States Border Patrol for the past two years, and at every level of the organization throughout his three decades of service," Mayorkas said in the release. "He embodies the core values of vigilance, service to country and integrity, as well as the Border Patrol’s motto: honor first."
Mayorkas said when he came into his secretary role, he knew filling the Border Patrol chief position would be vital, the release reported. He noted Ortiz was already planning to retire.
"Convincing him to remain in service and selecting him to lead the Border Patrol was among the most important decisions I have made," Mayorkas added, according to the release. "Chief Ortiz agreed to postpone his retirement several times since and the Border Patrol, the department and our country have been all the better for it."
Mayorkas commended Ortiz for his handling of a number of challenges during his career, the release said.
“He managed the critical transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic and into the enforcement of our traditional immigration authorities under Title 8 of the United States Code." Mayorkas said in the release. "He championed our effort to increase the number of case processors in order to get our agents and officers back into the field."
Mayorkas said Ortiz' "commitment to the wellbeing of the workforce and to championing their priorities are among the clearest examples of his unsurpassed devotion to duty." He noted Ortiz is the "model of a law enforcement leader," according to the release.
“The Border Patrol is stronger, and our nation is more secure, thanks to his leadership. I will miss his candor, our thought partnership and our friendship," Mayorkas said in the release. "I offer my heartfelt congratulations to him for more than 32 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Border Patrol. We are forever grateful for his service and sacrifice, and that of his family who have served right alongside him.”
