Sean Reyes: “It is even rarer for a man to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with his heroes as a fellow community leader. While…”

“It is even rarer for a man to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with his heroes as a fellow community leader. While serving as Border Patrol Sector Chief for the McAllen, Texas sector, however, I had that chance. Today, we are remembering the lives and groundbreaking achievements of the late Judges Reynaldo Guerra Garza and Filemon Vela and inscribing the U.S. Courthouse in Brownsville with their names. Like me, Judge Garza came from a humble background, from a family whose parents were born in Mexico and came to this country in search of opportunity for their children. He rose to preside over one of the highest courts in the land, in the process becoming the first Mexican-American federal district judge and rendering some of the most important civil rights decisions in this country's history. Judge Garza ended his career on the prestigious Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Judge Vela, much like Judge Garza, grew up of modest means in South Texas. He is remembered as a hard-working and committed judge whose impact was felt not only in the courtroom, but in the community as well.”