Ryan Patrick announced his retirement as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas on Monday, capping a three-year tenure that was marked by a substantial increase in felony prosecutions and the growing immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Patrick, who began serving as U.S. Attorney in 2018, said in a statement that it was "the honor of a lifetime" to work in the post, which comprises seven federal district court divisions in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo.