US names new Border Patrol chief

The Trump administration has named a new head of the US Border Patrol. Rodney Scott will take over for Carla Provost, who is retiring, according to an announcement obtained Friday by The Associated Press from Mark Morgan, acting head of US Customs and Border Protection.

Scott has been a member of the Border Patrol for 27 years. He takes over the Border Patrol at a critical time. The agency is in charge of border security and has managed massive numbers of crossings at the US-Mexico border. An increasing number were families from Central America.

Scott led the San Diego Sector, which includes 60 miles (97 kilometers) of border shared with Mexico and 931 miles (1,498 kilometers) of coastal border. Morgan says Scott is the absolute "embodiment of the US Border Patrol's motto, 'Honour First'."

Provost was the first female leader of the Border agency.