BORTAC

The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) is one of two police tactical units in the Special Operations Group under the United States Border Patrol (USBP). It specializes in counterterrorism, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, hostage rescue, operating in difficult to access terrain, reconnaissance, and tactical special operations. In 2007, BORTAC was placed under the command of the newly formed Special Operations Group (SOG) together with the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR).

==Mission== The mission of BORTAC is "to respond to terrorist threats of all types anywhere in the world in order to protect our nation's homeland." In essence, BORTAC teams often conduct drug raids on high-value targets, as well as sometimes being attached to Border Patrol or Air and Marine Operations units to assist them in their duties. BORTAC does not only conduct operations on the U.S. border. BORTAC teams are often used to provide a tactical federal law enforcement capability across the country, helping with security for events such as the Super Bowl, as well as being deployed to natural disaster areas to ensure that civil unrest does not break out. Additionally, BORTAC teams can be called upon to assist local law enforcement in high-profile events such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots, where they were part of the 1,000 riot-trained federal special agents sent in an attempt to end the rioting in the Los Angeles region; and the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape, where a BORTAC team inserted by helicopter shot and killed escaped prisoner Richard Matt. BORTAC has been assigned to operate in sanctuary cities to increase immigration enforcement. Finally, BORTAC teams can sometimes be deployed overseas to assist and train countries in drug enforcement and border security techniques.