LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. - March 18, 2021 - In 2007, the U.S. Border Patrol joined two units, the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), to form the U.S. Border Patrol's Special Operations Group (SOG), headquartered in El Paso, Texas.
BORTAC and BORSTAR direct their nationally dispersed assets from SOG, providing the U.S. Border Patrol with immediate tactical and emergency response assets. SOG provides the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Border Patrol with specially-trained and equipped teams capable of rapid response to emergent and uncommon law enforcement situations requiring special tactics and techniques, search and rescue, and medical response capabilities.
BORTAC and BORSTAR advance the missions of the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP by handling uncommon and dangerous situations outside the normal scope of Border Patrol agent duties. BORTAC and BORSTAR accomplish their goals through planning and training. SOG deploys to domestic and international intelligence-driven and anti-terrorism efforts as well as to disaster and humanitarian special operations.
SOG's in-house Intelligence Unit (SOG IU) provides vital mission-critical field intelligence to SOG assets. SOG IU conducts electronic targeting and collections and provides additional support for selected CBP missions and Border Patrol sector intelligence initiatives.
The command staff for the Mobile Response Unit (MRT) is also located at SOG Headquarters. SOG provides MRT, which is a rapidly deployable asset capable of addressing problematic areas along the Nation's borders, with training, equipment, and logistical support. As a highly mobile, rapid-response tool, SOG significantly increases the ability of DHS, CBP, and the U.S. Border Patrol to respond operationally to specific terrorist threats and incidents, as well as to support traditional Border Patrol operations. Source: https://www.lagunajournal.com
