Christopher J. Harris full Bio

My name is Christopher Harris, and I’d like to ask you for your support and vote in my campaign to be elected as your next Secretary of Local 1613 (NBPC).  I would like to be allowed to continue to serve - my Brother and Sister US Border Patrol Agents, our support staff, and our membership in the San Diego Sector - in this position.

I consider it as both an honor and privilege to continue to serve, in any capacity – and hope that you will allow me to serve as your next Local 1613 Executive Board Secretary.  As I am asking for your support, you deserve to know a little of my background and career -

My career as a sworn law enforcement officer started in 1982, and I have served in one capacity or another as a sworn officer (correctional officer, police officer/detective, federal officer, and federal agent) at the local (municipal), state, and federal levels - in both New York and California.  I started my law enforcement career at the age of 18 in NY (September 13, 1982), and have also served my community (NY) as a volunteer firefighter.

My family and I moved to California in 1997 for the US Border Patrol – first for the US Department of Justice, and now with the Department of Homeland Security.  I had previously worked for the US Government as a federal officer with the US Treasury Department, and am currently still employed by the US Border Patrol as a Border Patrol Agent (SPA), and have been for the last 19+ years.

I am a widower (Kimberly Harris 1962-2002), who is currently engaged to a lovely young woman from Mexico, whom I was proud to watch take the oath to become a US Citizen in 2013.  The Lord also blessed me with two wonderful daughters – both married and with families (I have 6 grandkids between them).

I am a member and official with Local 1613 (NBPC), representing our membership in the SDC area.  My current position with the Union is that of Director of Legislative & Political Affairs, and also as a Lead Union Representative (IMB).  Most of my work now occurs in the legislative & political arena (federal & state, and local level), with some media involvement. 

A lot of the former entails working with various business groups, labor/union organizations, community groups and activists, NGO’s, and other disparate entities (including foreign governments like the GOM).  Our goal has been to bring our message, concerns, and issues to the American public, our legislators and leaders, and all the other groups who are able to have an impact on us in any manner - and I believe that we have made remarkable strides in doing so in a short time.

I have been active in the Union since 2002, at various levels and in various positions (Union Rep., Assistant Lead Union Rep, VP, etc.) - and have been the Lead Union Representative of the IMB Station since 2005, with a brief break between late 2013 and early 2015.  Experience does count – I have represented our members in over 100 oral responses for disciplinary/adverse actions, and also over 130 Managerial Inquiries, CIIT Interviews, OIA/OPR/OIG interviews, and US Attorney’s Office interviews/depositions.

My belief in our Union, especially Local 1613, goes back to the representation and assistance I received after I was involved in a deadly force cross-border shooting incident (TJ River Channel) back in 2000.  I was ably represented by one of our PORAC attorneys, Mike Baranic – who with the Local got me through a very difficult time.  My belief in our Local was further strengthened by the assistance I received after I was struck in the head by a rock thrown by a smuggler back in 2006.  These two incidents, among many, have shown me first-hand what our Union can, and must do, to protect our members.

Media interviews:

Catch and release interview

Border Fence Issue

Delayed deportations

I am fully committed to doing just that and I hope, with your support, that I will be allowed to continue to do so.  Thank you for all that you all do, each and every day.