A former Rio Grande Valley deputy chief patrol agent will take the reins of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy Miller announced Thursday.
“Today, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Raul Ortiz as the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” Miller said in a statement Thursday.
Ortiz will assume his role when the current chief, Rodney Scott, a 27-year Border Patrol veteran, officially departs from his position. Scott was chief for 17 months before making an announcement Wednesday via social media.
“I received my 3R letter today,” Scott wrote, referring to a letter issued to federal employees in which they are given the option to “relocate, resign, or retire.”
In his statement, Scott attributed the move to the new administration placing “the person they want in the position,” and further pointed to “a simple needs of the service” reassignment.
Traditionally, presidents select new leaders of agencies on their arrival, but Scott had remained in his position since President Joe Biden took office.
Scott said he will remain in his position for about 60 days to ensure a smooth transition, according to the social media post.
Ortiz will become Border Patrol’s 25th chief. His career with the agency spans over 29 years and in numerous locations.
He started in the San Diego Sector in 1991. From 2000 to 2005, Ortiz worked at the Comstock Station as assistant patrol agent in charge. In 2005, he worked in the Del Rio Sector as the assistant chief patrol agent.
Ortiz went overseas from 2009 to 2010 to work as the director of the Border Management Task force in Kabul, Afghanistan, and later as the senior advisor to the special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan for the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2011, he received a promotion to the Senior Executive Service position of DHS Attaché in Kabul. He returned to the U.S. later to work in Washington as the deputy chief of operations.
Ortiz worked in the Valley for six years, having been appointed deputy chief patrol agent in the sector in 2013.
He returned to the Del Rio Sector in 2019 as its new chief. He worked there until he was promoted to deputy chief of the agency last year.
“Chief Ortiz’s passion for his work, colleagues, and agents is infectious,” Miller said in the statement. “I am confident he will lead with “Honor First,” securing our borders and enforcing the laws of this nation with humanity.”
