[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1916]]
CELEBRATING THE APPOINTMENT OF LYNNE UNDERDOWN AS THE NEW CHIEF PATROL
AGENT FOR THE MIAMI BORDER PATROL SECTOR OF THE IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICE

______

HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

of florida

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, September 21, 1999

Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Lynne
Underdown on her appointment as the new Chief Patrol Agent for the
Miami Border Patrol Sector and also to commend INS Commissioner Doris
Meissner on Ms. Underdown's groundbreaking appointment.
Ms. Underdown will serve as one of 23 Chief Patrol Agents nationwide
in the U.S. Border Patrol, the largest uniformed federal law
enforcement organization. Ms. Underdown will be the first female chief
in the 75 year history of the Border Patrol, the uniformed enforcement
arm of the Immigration and Naturalization Service with more than 8,000
officers charged with protecting our Nation's borders.
I would like to share with my Colleagues the attached News Release
from the Immigration and Naturalization Service announcing Ms.
Underdown's appointment and detailing her wide-ranging professional
experience.
Mr. Speaker, the Border Patrol performs a critical mission--to
facilitate legal immigration and commerce and prevent illegal traffic
in people and contraband, while ensuring the safety of those living in
border communities. In Miami, our frequent and unhappy experience with
immigrant smuggling makes it particularly essential that the Border
Patrol and all immigration-related agencies discharge their
responsibilities professionally and with sensitivity for the people
involved.
I am sure that Ms. Underdown's wide-ranging background and experience
with detention and deportation issues will serve her well in her new
position. Hopefully, her appointment also will promote the development
of additional professional opportunities for women in all branches of
law enforcement.

News Release, September 21, 1999

INS Names New Chief Patrol Agent for Miami Sector

Washington--Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
Commissioner Doris Meissner today named Lynne Underdown,
currently the Director of INS in New Orleans, as the new
Chief Patrol Agent for the Miami Border Patrol Sector.
Underdown will be the first female chief in the 75-year
history of the U.S. Border Patrol, the uniformed enforcement
arm of INS charged with protecting the nation's borders.
``Lynne Underdown brings 19 years of distinguished service
to the job. Her appointment underscores my continuing
commitment to appoint the best-qualified applicants to key
positions throughout the agency. It is a special pleasure
that for Miami the result is our first female chief,'' said
Meissner.
The Miami Sector has 55 Border Patrol Agents and 36 support
staff stationed in Florida. In addition, the sector has
jurisdiction over North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
``I have great respect for the hard working and dedicated
agents for the Miami Sector. They have accomplished a great
deal when faced with extraordinary challenges. It will be my
privilege to represent them,'' said Underdown.
Underdown began her career with INS in 1980 as a Border
Patrol agent in San Diego. While in San Diego, she served as
a field agent and also worked as Field Training Officer,
Sector Training Officer and Recruiting Officer.
In 1987, Underdown was promoted to Supervisory Border
Patrol Agent in Yuma Sector, where she was supervisor of the
Criminal Alien (BORCAP) unit. She also supervised Employer
Sanctions, the K-9 Tactical Unit and all Sector recruiting
activities.
In 1990, Underdown transferred to the El Paso Sector, where
she was stationed in Carlsbad, New Mexico and continued her
work with the Criminal Alien unit and employer sanctions. She
also handled outreach activities with the community and local
employers.
In 1992, Underdown was promoted to Assistant District
Director for Detention and Deportation in the New Orleans
District. She was responsible for supervising one of the
largest and most complex detention and deportation operations
in the country, covering a five-state jurisdiction and the
Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution for criminal aliens.
She was promoted to District Director in New Orleans in June
1998.
Born and raised in Chicago, Underdown has a brother on the
Chicago police force and another brother who works for the
Cook County Sheriff's Department. Her father was a 30-year
veteran of the Chicago Police Department. ``I come from a law
enforcement family and I am proud to carry on that
tradition,'' said Underdown. She currently resides in New
Orleans with her two children and her husband, who is Chief
Patrol Agent of the New Orleans Border Patrol Sector.
Underdown will serve as one of 23 Chief Patrol Agents
nationwide in the largest uniformed federal law enforcement
organization. The U.S. Border Patrol was officially
established on May 28, 1924 by an act of Congress passed in
response to increasing illegal immigration. The initial force
of 450 officers was given the responsibility of combating
illegal entries and the growing business of alien smuggling.
The Border Patrol now numbers more than 8,000 well-trained
and well-equipped officers.
While the Border Patrol has changed dramatically since its
inception 75 years ago, its primary mission remains
unchanged--to detect and prevent the unlawful entry of aliens
into the United States and to apprehend those persons found
in the United States in violation of immigration laws.
Together with other INS officers, the Border Patrol helps
maintain borders that work--facilitating the flow of legal
immigration and goods while preventing the illegal traffic of
people and contraband and ensuring the safety of all those
living in border communities.