SARITA, Texas — Hundreds of dignitaries gathered Wednesday at the Sarita checkpoint south of Kingsville, Texas, for a special renaming ceremony.
The checkpoint will now be called the Javier Vega, Jr., Checkpoint in honor of a fallen U.S. Border Patrol agent who once worked there.
Vega was killed in the line of duty in 2014.
Drivers heading north on Highway 77 pass through Sarita, Texas, and they will now see Vega's name along the checkpoint.
On Wednesday, friends, family, colleagues, Texas legislators and law enforcement agencies from around the state gathered to remember Vega.
Known as "Harvey," Vega was born in La Féria, Texas, and was a U.S. Marine before becoming a U.S. Border Patrol agent. He served at the Sarita checkpoint with his K-9 unit, Goldie.
In 2014 Vega was on a fishing trip with his family in Raymondville, Texas, when he was murdered by two armed men with ties to transnational organized crime.
"Agent Vega died protecting his family," Senator Ted Cruz said. "Protecting all of us."
Vega's death wasn't immediately ruled as being in the line of duty, but for the next two years Senator John Cornyn and several Texas legislators urged Customs and Border Protection to reclassify his death. In September of 2016, their request was granted.
"We had to make the case that he was in the job basically 24/7," Cornyn said. "It takes a long time. As you know the federal government is not known for speed."
The new name was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. Speakers at the ceremony included Vega's mother, wife, senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, and many others. They said the new sign will not only honor Vega, but also the men and women who risk their lives every day to secure our country.