Manuel Padilla Jr. - W.I.N. Episode 24

Chief Jason Owens interviews Chief of Law Enforcement Operations Manuel Padilla Jr.

Manuel Padilla Jr. is the Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Directorate at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, DC. He is responsible for oversight of the day-to-day law enforcement operations at Border Patrol sectors throughout the United States. He serves as a principal advisor to the Chief of the Border Patrol on enforcement operations and administrative requirements for the successful accomplishment of the Border Patrol mission.

Prior to his current assignment, Chief Padilla was presidentially appointed Director of Joint Task Force – West (JTF-W) of DHS' Southern Border and Approaches Campaign Plan in October 2018. As the Director, Chief Padilla oversaw the coordination and facilitation of integrated and prioritized cross-component operations along the U.S. Southwest Border to leverage DHS, interagency and partner nation capabilities for increasing border security and to dismantle illicit networks. Chief Padilla’s guidance led to the development of international engagement strategies to assist DHS foreign country teams and international mission partners; as well as establishment of a bi-national initiative with the Government of Mexico to jointly identify high profile suspected criminals and as a public outreach program to enlist the public’s help on both sides of the border to provide information on suspected criminals.

Before his appointment, Chief Padilla served as Chief of the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector and Commander of the JTF-W South Texas Corridor (STC). As Sector Chief, Director Padilla had operational and administrative oversight of major programs, accounting for the majority of illegal alien apprehensions and marijuana seized along the Southwest Border. As Commander of JTF-W STC, he championed national priorities in South Texas for the focused development of personnel, technology and infrastructure.

Chief Padilla has held a number of key leadership positions including Chief Patrol Agent and Deputy Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector where he led more than 4,500 Border Patrol employees responsible for securing 262 miles along the United States and Mexican border. During his tenure, immigration apprehensions in Fiscal 2014 declined to 87,000 in the Sector – the first time in 21 years fewer than 100,000 aliens were apprehended. Chief Padilla also led a bi-national targeted law-enforcement effort with the Government of Mexico military, police, and investigative agencies, and served as the Chief Patrol Agent of the New Orleans Sector and Associate Chief at Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Chief Padilla entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on Aug. 11, 1986, and his first assignment was at the Sierra Blanca Station in Texas. In 1990, he became a member of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, eventually providing instruction on tactical procedures to host country police forces in Bolivia, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

Chief Padilla is a graduate of the CBP SES Candidate Development Program. Prior to joining the Border Patrol, he served in the United States Army for two years.