Roll of Honor
James McCabe
Incident
Immigration Inspector James McCabe succumbed to injuries sustained three years earlier while attempting to apprehend suspected Chinese smugglers on the Detroit River near Ecorse, Michigan. He had received information that several illegal aliens were to be smuggled into Ecorse from Canada via boat. He set out in a motorboat to locate them. As he came alongside a boat with two people in it one of the men struck him in the head with an object, knocking him unconscious. Inspector McCabe remained unconscious in his boat for several hours. He was able to make it to shore after regaining consciousness. One of the men in the boat he was attempting to intercept was later shot and killed by federal officers but the other escaped. Inspector McCabe eventually succumbed to complications of the head injury on March 4th, 1923. Inspector McCabe had served with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-FFE5414F- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Immigration Inspector McCabe gave the United States Department of Justice 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Immigration Inspector McCabe.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Immigration Inspector James McCabe is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James McCabe's cause is highlighted.
How James McCabe Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James McCabe is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James McCabe was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service are honored on badge.nw.
