Gustavo de la Viña

Gustavo de la Viña
Chief of United States Border Patrol
In office 1998–2004
President	Bill Clinton George W. Bush
Preceded by	Douglas M. Kruhm
Succeeded by	David V. Aguilar
Personal details
Born	June 24, 1939 Edinburg, Texas
Died	October 26, 2009 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Alma mater	University of Texas–Pan American (BPE)

Gustavo de la Viña (June 24, 1939 – October 26, 2009) was the first Mexican American to serve as chief of the United States Border Patrol.

Early life and education

Gustavo de la Viña graduated from Edinburg High School. He graduated from what was then known as Pan American University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Physical Education.

Career

Entered duty in the United States Border Patrol in 1970 assigned to the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry. He taught Spanish to future border patrol agents at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. Became Deputy Chief Patrol Agent at El Paso sector chief from 1984 to 1990 in El Paso, Texas. De la Viña went on to serve for four years as Chief Patrol Agent at the San Diego sector in San Diego, California. During his time in San Diego, De la Viña implemented Operation Gatekeeper. Was Western regional director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1995 to 1997. Gustavo de la Viña was promoted to Chief of the United States Border Patrol on December 1997 and remained in that post until his retirement in 2004.