2-06-2025 8:36pm

Interim Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar to Lead Local CBP District

Chris Edwards Editor

Courtesy CBP

Walter N. Slosar has been appointed Interim Chief Patrol Agent for the El Paso Sector (EPT), assuming his role Feb. 2. With extensive experience in leadership and operations, Chief Slosar is well-prepared to guide the Sector in safeguarding a critical portion of the nation's border.

The El Paso Sector of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) includes the stare of New Mexico and two counties in West Texas to include El Paso. The sector is made up of 11 stations, including Alamogordo, Deming, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso, Clint, and Fort Hancock, Texas.

The El Paso Sector covers the entire state of New Mexico and the two western most counties in Texas, Hudspeth and El Paso. This consists of 125,500 square miles, 121,000 square miles in New Mexico and 4,500 square miles in Texas. There are 264 miles of international boundary.

"I am honored to lead and serve alongside the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector," Chief Slosar said. "National security cannot exist without border security, and border security cannot exist without our Border Patrol Agents and Professional Staff. Our mission is to secure our borders and protect our communities. This mission will define every action we take, every goal we have, and every resource we use. I am determined to enhance our operational capabilities and strengthen partnerships with federal, state, local, and DoD enforcement partners to achieve our shared mission.”

Chief Slosar's distinguished 26-year career began Aug. 2, 1998, when he graduated from the 384th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. His initial assignment was at the Santa Teresa Station (STN) in the El Paso Sector. Over the years, he has held various leadership positions at the HQ, Sector, and Station levels. Prior to this appointment, Chief Slosar served as Chief, Law Enforcement Operations Directorate (LEOD) in the Senior Executive Service at the U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters (USBP HQ) in Washington, D.C.

He also served as Chief, LEOD, USBP HQ; Assistant Chief, USBP HQ; Chief Patrol Agent (CPA), Big Bend Sector; CPA, Miami Sector; Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent, EPT; Division Chief, LEOD, EPT; Patrol Agent in Charge (PAIC), STN, EPT; Acting CBP Attaché in Guatemala; CBP Advisor in Panama; PAIC, Fort Hancock Station (FHT), EPT; Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge, FHT, EPT; Field Operations Supervisor, STN, EPT; and Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, Ysleta Station and STN, EPT.

A bit of local history on the Alamogordo CBP Station was established in 1926 with a complement of two Patrol Inspectors. They conducted station business out of their homes until 1938. The primary duty of the inspectors was to check trains for illegal aliens while the steam locomotives stopped for fuel and water.

The station was increased to 10 Patrol Inspectors by 1940. Their duties were expanded to include observing vehicle traffic. In 1959, the station area was divided with the eastern half going to the newly created station at Carlsbad, New Mexico. The remaining portion became the present station area which consists of 16,285 square miles.

The Alamogordo Station area is characterized by mountain ranges and a large valley all oriented in a south to north direction. The valley, called the Tularosa Basin, extends 100 miles north and is 30 to 40 miles in width. Two large military bases are located in the area, Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range.