The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) has selected Craig Shepley as the new Deputy Chief Patrol Agent (DCPA) of Maine’s Houlton Sector.
Shepley, a 24-year Border Patrol veteran, assumed the role of Houlton Sector Chief Patrol Agent in late June, taking over from the former acting chief Christopher Kuhn.
“I am truly excited to be here at Houlton Sector and looking forward to working with our federal and local partners in the state of Maine. The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol here in Maine are hyper focused on applying the law and delivering consequence to those individuals who attempt to operate outside of it,” Shepley said in a Monday press release.
Shepley will serve as the Acting Chief until his top spot is filled.
“The goal in my time here at Houlton Sector will be to further that mission through strengthening coalitions, improving enforcement capabilities, and providing a leadership structure that is responsive to the needs of the Agents on the ground and the communities that we work in,” said Shepley.
The Houlton Sector, which encompasses the entire state of Maine, including about 300 miles of land border and the state’s coastline, had been without a permanent chief following the retirement of Chief Patrol Agent Juan Bernal in April.
Bernal’s retirement came among an ongoing leadership shakeup in Houlton Sector leadership since the Trump administration took over in January and began their push for increased enforcement.
In February of this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the selection of new Patrol Agents in Charge (PAIC) for the Calais and Rangeley Stations.
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So far in fiscal year 2025, the USBP Houlton Sector has made 456 arrests, already overtaking the totals from 2024 (344 arrests), 2023 (300 arrests) and 2022 (303 arrests).
The agency has also reported several high-profile arrests in recent months of illegal alien gang members in the state, including a Salvadoran MS-13 member wanted by Interpol for murder, and a member of the Venezuelan criminal street gang Tren de Aragua.
