Border Patrol's first female chief hopes to inspire women
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press
Sep 25, 2018 11:38 PM CDT
FILE - In this July 31, 2018, file photo, then-Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol Acting Chief Carla Provost takes questions as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the Trump administration's policies on immigration enforcement and family reunification efforts, on Capitol...   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost says she hopes she can inspire other women to sign up with the agency, which has just one female agent for every 20 men.

Provost tells The Associated Press in an interview, "If you're a woman in law enforcement, I don't care where you're at, you're a minority."

Provost joined the agency in 1995 and became its acting chief in April 2017. She took over last month as the first female chief in its 94-year history.

The Border Patrol and its 19,000 agents have been under a constant spotlight and faced sharp criticism for its policies. Curbing immigration remains at the top of President Donald Trump's priorities, and the administration plans to add 5,000 Border Patrol agents.