ARTESIA, N.M. (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is slated to visit Artesia, N.M., for a U.S. Border Patrol graduation ceremony.
The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that Napolitano is scheduled to attend Thursday the 1,000th session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Artesia.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Artesia High School auditorium. The academy first began 78 years ago in El Paso at "Camp Chigas."
Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, David Aguilar, and Chief of the United States Border Patrol, Michael Fisher, also are slated to attend.
The visit comes as the region has reported a big drop in border arrests.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.