Oscar
Charleston, SC
Male, 31
Spent a bit over four years (2006-2010) serving as a Border Patrol Agent in Tucson Sector, AZ: the busiest sector in the country. Worked numerous positions, and spent the last year and a half operating/instructing ground radar installations. Duties included: field patrols, transport, processing, control room duties, transportation check, checkpoint operations, static watch duties, etc.
The answer to this question is two-fold: theory and reality. The theory is that illegal immigrants will be intercepted/apprehended within 25-50 miles of the international border. If they make it into the country, we "hope" that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) will manage to apprehend some. Most police departments/sheriff's offices in the U.S. will attempt to contact their local I.C.E/USBP office if they have an aggravated felon who is an illegal, etc. For the most part, once an illegal enters the country and is not apprehended, his chance of deportation drops immensely. Most police departments/sheriff's offices do not have... Read More +
You've hit the nail on the head. There is little to no real consequence to entering the country illegally. In fact, quite the opposite. Our country bends over and actively pursues business/hiring/employment etc. of illegal immigrants. I've interviewed thousands of illegal immigrants and they readily admit they come here because it's easy and welcoming.
The USBP does have the discretion to deport anyone that enters the country illegally. While this enters you into the FBI system as an actual criminal (with an actual criminal record to go along with it) we simply do not have the time/manpower to do this. ... Read More +
There is one, and only one real solution - and once again, something we'll never do. America needs to stop supporting illegal immigrants. End of story.
No credit cards. No houses. No apartments. No jobs. No social programs. No medical care. No driver's licenses. Close/arrest any shop and any employer who employs/houses/supports illegal immigrants. It would require the entire country to turn it's back on illegal immigrants.
Unfortunately the American way is cheaper, easier...regardless of the future cost or the country's well-being.
Remove the incentive to come to the... Read More +
This has changed several times since I was in the Patrol. When I applied, it took approximately 6 months from application to arriving at the USBP Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia, NM. During those six months you do a physical, an initial test, a foreign-language suitability test, an oral interview, background investigation, additional paperwork etc.
Once at the FLETC, our academy was 20 weeks (5 months) long. During this time you had 3-4 hours of classes per day, 2+ hours of physical instruction, practical exercises, etc. The Patrol is very paramilitary, so you... Read More +
Stand-Up Comedian
Border Patrol Agent
School Bus Driver
They do very little. In fact, sadly almost every form of Mexican authority is plagued with a large amount of corruption. It was more common for Mexican police to extort bribes out of Mexicans...and then send them on their way. They would also abuse/harass O.T.M's very often. There is no real Mexican border patrol on the U.S. border, except around larger cities/P.O.E.'s.
Mexican police were not trustworthy. Mexican military were equally questionable (they often patrol the border, battling the cartels). Mexican customs is a joke. In addition to this, there are the cartels (who effectively run/coordinate... Read More +
It's not "creeping", it's here. The drug cartels are extremely large, powerful organizations and their reach expands throughout all of the U.S. and Canada, albeit not nearly as distinctly as in Mexico.
If they don't run it, they have some say in it - or want to have some say in it. Keep in mind these are organizations who are going toe-to-toe with the Mexican federal police and military...and winning.
The death toll along the Mexican border (thankfully, mostly on the South side) is something beyond 60,000 people in five years. That's more civilians/cartel/police dead than soldiers we lost in Vietnam. ... Read More +
The Fast and Furious scheme is one of the absolute worst violations of public power I've seen. If this were a different legislation, heads would roll.
While we didn't have any direct experience with it (from an operation standpoint) we suffered the penalties for their idiocy. No knowledgable law enforcement official in the country would ever support a program which allows strawman purchases of firearms. Those firearms have ended up in several dozen crime scenes in the U.S., including the death of BPA Brian Terry.
Unfortunately there is a huge political component to this, which is aimed squarely at criminalizing... Read More +
Our area of responsibility (AOR) was extremely busy because of the lack of cities on the border. The open desert and no wall made it very appetizing to the cartels. The tunnels you hear about tend to be in more built-up areas, namely cities which span the border (Nogales, AZ etc.).
Tucson Sector is responsible for something like 70-80% of all of the intercepted drugs coming into the country. Most common: vehicles and backpackers ("mules"). It was very common to find groups of 10-20 backpackers, each carrying between 40-70 lbs. of marijuana on their back. Trucks would routinely be loaded with 1500-2500... Read More +
No. I only ever felt bad for the kids and children (especially those who died in the desert) because they didn't have a choice in the matter. Considering that 70% of the USBP was hispanic, "we" didn't have much sympathy for those coming across. Every illegal immigrant is a slap in the face to the 10's of thousands of people who bust their butts to enter the country legally through the correct channels. The USBP is pro-immigration...just legal immigration. We all agree there should be reforms to the current process, but taking the easy way out and breaking the law won't garner any sympathy from me.
Forging a U.S. Passport would be very difficult. Now, everything can be done at a certain price, so high-level criminals could likely swing a pretty convincing copy. However, with the advent of barcodes/scanning techniques this has now become incredibly difficult. Anyone can reproduce some watermarks, type, and photos...but to pass a scanning machine is extremely difficult.
I wish I had more opportunity to work a P.O.E. with Customs guys as this was something I had little experience in. More common were fake Mexican ID cards - carried by people from other countries, trying to pass as Mexicans. These were... Read More +
Most clever that I personally encountered was a Mexican man who made his gown Ghillie suit (a camouflage suit that military snipers make out of netting/branches/grass etc.). He had made it about seven miles into the country but surrended when a USBP horse patrol unit came so close they were about to step on him.
The dumbest was likely one of the many counterfeit vans which they tried to sneak across the border. Mexicans occasionally try to recreate USBP vehicles. They never do a very good job and you can pick them out almost immediately.
This particular van was painted up as a USBP van, had a cage inside etc. ... Read More +
While this question is purely political/agenda driven in nature, I'll provide a short response. There are numerous pieces of legislation which provide USBP and Customs officers various forms of authority within a certain radius of an international border (and by extension international airports which are technically also P.O.E's.). As the distance increases from the border we have different levels of authority. You can google and wikipedia the relevant laws and pieces of legislation which provide for this authority. A similar number of restrictions apply to USBP checkpoints.
USBP Agents are also often assigned... Read More +
Depends on the weapon. Agents are issued a service handgun (currently an HK P2000 in .40 S&W). Shotguns and carbines (M4/M4A1's) are checked out during shift if you think you'll need one.
Special units may be issued "take home" carbines/shotguns and even secondary handguns (for clandestine/undercover tasks). So, carbines/shotguns are kept in the armory (our station did not have nearly enough for everyone to have an issued longarm.).
You keep your handgun at all times. It is your assigned firearm.
Remember ultralights are little flimsy aircraft run by lawn-mower motors etc. I don't know how soon we'll be seeing unmanned drones from the cartels. Now, cheap little camera-helicopters you can fly from your iPhone? Maybe. Maybe even some of the smaller, cheaper propeller driven ones eventually (the kind you can deploy as a single person, and control with a little control box from a backpack). But genuine, long-distance, heavy duty drones with sophisticated cameras/weapons? I wouldn't worry about that anytime soon.
Tattoos are not a concern, unless you have obscenities or graphic content displayed on your neck/face/hands etc. If you have "normal" tattoos which are reasonable it is not a problem.
That would be a question for your consulate and the Immigration authorities. Normally if you were brought into the U.S. as a child it should not hurt your application process, but I can not state one way or the other.
You may be able to contact the office of a federal immigration judge for a proper answer.
Getting into the USBP is not overly difficult. You are perfectly qualified. The only issue would be whether or not the USBP is hiring or not. The academy is always running in some fashion. Classes are put through to fill slots as agents retire/transfer to other agencies.
Like every other politically-volatile agency the BP goes through hiring phases, and hiring freezes. When I joined it was part of the push from 8,000 agents up to 15,000+. The academy was absolutely packed, running overtime. Since then numbers have gone down a bit at the academy.
I would see if you can contact a recruiting... Read More +
That's a question for a BP recruiter. I think it would depend entirely on the type of felony. My gut instinct says "nope", but I could be wrong.
All of these questions are completely dependent on the station/sector and the needs of the shift. You could have over 100 agents per shift. Agents operate singles or in pairs, but when a task is called out on the radio who knows how many could show up. Bike teams and horses were often 4-8 agents depending on the shift. It also depends on how many agents were available, how supervisors preferred to work an area, and how busy traffic was in certain areas.
Not sure, I have no experience in status applications. That would be a question better addressed to the officers you're dealing with during the application process.
The U.S./Mexico international border is extremely porous. While on paper the entire border is monitored, the reality is that our capacity to deter/intercept all of the illegal traffic is mediocre at best. Judging by the traffic patterns I saw, I would estimate my station/sector's capability at perhaps 30% of the overall traffic is intercepted effectively.
Never worked with the US Marshals. You could apply direct to the Marshals though, unless you don't believe you have the resume to do so.
You can try, but don't bother. This will come up in your application process, and you'll be disqualified.
Pretty much zero chance. He will likely be flown back to Albania on an ICE flight.
There is no release of information from a station or sector level. An illegal immigrant is only kept in custody at a station for less than 24 hours (often not more than 12). As a safety precaution we do not release information/names/locations of individuals in custody.
A person can contact the Mexican/Other consulate within 24-36 hours and they should keep a record of people returned to their country. In the event that an illegal immigrant is sent to jail or prosecuted they will eventually get a chance to make a phone call/contact relatives etc. (like a normal incarcerated/prosecuted person).
From an official standpoint, obviously the Border Patrol does not endorse or condone "vigilante" style groups like the Minutemen. That being said, I don't mind them. We were required to report them and confront them if we found them operating in our AOR. This was rare though, as our sector was far too busy. We had a lot of people who would call in and help us (even had a lady who erected a watchtower in her backyard).
I never viewed the Minutemen as a "lunatic fringe" group. Most of the people are farmers/landowners or friends/relatives of them...people who are suffering at the hands of the border problem.
The... Read More +
We have a lot of the border under surveillance, but it's never enough. Also the desert is an extremely diverse environment. Dense brush, cliffs, outcroppings, washes (dry creekbeds), etc. make it very difficult to observe all of it.
Places with open expanses do rely on large networks of cameras. All along the border we also have sensors or various types (magnetic, seismic etc.) to detect groups and vehicles. However these don't always work, and are often set off by cattle or locals, or even BP Agents etc.
I worked for a bit over a year and a half in radar trucks which are fantastic. However these... Read More +
I don't believe so. The application process has no real steps you can skip or speed up. However, if you contact the agents you work with they would possibly be able to put you in touch with the Sector's recruitment agents who might be able to tell you more.
BP Agents have authority to apprehend illegal immigrants anywhere in the country. However, special statutes and laws which allow us to set up traffic check-points, inspect items/people coming into the country, and stop vehicles for immigration purposes diminishes as you move further into the country.
If, for instance I was in Ohio and someone admitted to being an illegal immigrant, I could apprehend them. This of course assumes I'm on duty and in uniform etc. In this instance I would end up taking them to the nearest I.C.E. processing center.
Illegal is illegal.
The last couple of weeks before you graduate start looking...that's the beauty of the internet. Start researching and contact apartment complexes near your station etc. Heck you could even check into one of those hotels that lets you pay by the week for the first couple of weeks. Me and my classmates found a house to rent via Craigslist. We stayed there for 6 months then all moved to our own apartments/houses.
It's up to you to arrange the move of your family. It's not easy, but you'll figure it out. Just don't sign any papers or leases until you graduate. You should be able to tell the home... Read More +
No idea. That's a customs question, so I'm not sure. Mexican customs is pretty lax.
I'm not entirely sure, but I'd believe so. Children are always at the mercy of their parents decision, regardless of their citizenship. A case would have to be made to the authorities (child protective services) to warrant removing the children from their parents.
Not at all. Stolen vehicles are cheap and disposable. We used to capture dozens of stolen vehicles per week. It's also why car insurance is incredibly high in the South West compared to other parts of the country (especially if you own a full size pickup truck). They are also very fond of using rental cars (obviously with no intention to return them).
If they get chased, they'll just get away if they can and then bail out. It's far too expensive/time consuming to use properly purchased vehicles. The vehicles we're talking about are used for delivering large amounts of weed being shipped to local... Read More +
It's about 95% politics. No party nor politician wants to be responsible for losing the Latin-American vote or ruffling the feathers of Mexico's government. It would actually save us a lot of money in the long-run, given how much we spend on border security.
I wish I could give you a concise and accurate answer. There are numerous terrorist organizations who have been located in Mexico, dealing or working with the cartels. Simply put the cartels are the masters of infiltrating the U.S., using their expertise.
A week after 9/11 a dozen Chechens were caught coming across the Southern border. Hezbollah militants have been spotted in Mexico. I do believe the cartels know full well this could bring a lot of heat if something horrible can be traced back to them. However, unfortunately, we had a saying in the Patrol "we only catch the dumb ones". It's very... Read More +
There was a lot of tension between the local indian tribal police and ourselves. The Tohono O'Odham indian police were often very shady (and caught doing rather suspicious things). The entire reservation was corrupt/dirty so these police often had family members who were into illegal stuff as well.
You'd occasionally catch the police driving at night in the desert, lights out - well beyond their patrol areas. They'd invent some story about what they were doing etc. Likewise they would attempt to pull over BP vehicles when we were tailing suspicious vehicles etc. It was always an interesting time with them.
The... Read More +
You never end up dehumanizing people. That being said, business is business, work is work, and the law is the law. Our job isn't to hug and nurture people, it's to apprehend them and secure the border as best as possible.
In that regard you become like most seasoned EMT's and nurses...you're doing your job. The emotional baggage is best left behind. Anyone in a line of service (EMT's, firefighters, paramedics, cops etc.) definitely gets very accustomed to "crap". You run into enough tragedies, evil, wickedness, violence, abuse etc. that you become quite accustomed to it. You just accept it and move... Read More +
Jai,
This website exists for occupational questions, not debates on police procedure. If you have questions or concerns regarding immigrations laws and procedures, you need to contact a consulate or a sector headquarters, perhaps even an ICE field office. I'll simply say this, in four years and thousands of people apprehended, we never had a person who was wrongfully imprisoned or caught. If a person is caught lying to a federal agent, you've now committed a crime worse than illegal entry.
If a person lies about his country of origina successfully and gets sent to another country, well he'll have to deal with... Read More +
I was pretty impressed with the caliber of people in the Border Patrol. The academy, while not extremely tough was tough enough to weed out the idiots. There was a huge range of people in the Patrol. A large portion of ex-military folks (ranging from simple 4-year in/outs up to PJ's, some older SF types, USMC Corpsmen etc.).
A smaller number of prior law enforcement types, and then the rest were normal people like myself with no particularly advantageous background (college grads and non-college grads).
The overwhelming amount of political correctness and red tape means that in most cases the Border Patrol... Read More +
Yes.
We could do with a lot more Sheriff Joes in this world. He is a dying breed. For someone that people complain about a lot, he's been in office now for what 15-20 years and keeps getting re-elected? He's doing his job (a difficult one at that). The modern world seems to hate people with real work ethic or real opinions/values.
I applaud the guy. He has way too many enemies...that, if anyting, proves he's doing a hell of a job.
Yep, very depressing and stressful. Living in AZ it's more than obvious we're not making much of a difference. From Phoenix to the border the state has been flooded with illegal immigrants. You'd see hundreds daily just on the drive in to work. So, short answer - no I did not feel like we were making much of a difference.
It was also very obvious from the agency perspective that there was no genuine desire to effect real change. The USBP is about 50% just a dog and pony show. But we all knew that. We busted our butts, worked hard - but at the end of the day we knew the government etc. was not... Read More +
I have no idea. The exam is made for people who have no prior Border Patrol experience, so I am not sure you'd have a big advantage.
I'd say that of the groups that we detected or spotted we apprehended around 30-35%. That figure improved quite a bit following 9/11, as DHS/CBP had a large hiring push and went from around 8,000 agents to around 16,000.
Since then it seems to have been pretty steady. As apprehensions increase the Mexicans and cartel guys become a bit more creative. It's a constant back and forth. There is no genuine progress being made toward "shutting down the border" or "stopping illegal immigration" etc. Unfortunately that is not a political goal of either party.
The vast majority of our canines (at least our normal detection/tracking canines) were actually imported from the German Border Police (Bundesgrenschutz) canine school. Most of the dogs we received had actually failed bite-dog school, and had been repurposed. This is why our K9 operators use many commands in German, as opposed to English.
Right before I left the BP was starting its bite-dog program, but they had a silly politically correct name for it (Patrol K9's was the term they used) because they were afraid of scaring people (?). I do not know where the bite-dogs were sourced from.
All of the dogs I worked with were from the German schools.
You get very very basic intelligence training, but nothing that will make you stand out. In fact those courses were FLETC courses and not the BP courses, so they may not even include them anymore.
Like everything else, the BP does have intel units. However these units are small, and very difficult to land (normally going to senior agents). If you were able to get into intel in the BP, then yes I'd imagine there would be a decent amount of crossover.
I am currently doing a certificate in Intelligence Analysis with an online university as that field interests me as well. I would probably suggest getting... Read More +
All of the above. While it depends a lot on terrain and your local conditions, you have a large array of operations.
In our area we had a few "X"s...these are static locations watching a particular point of interest. You then had patroling units, which would actively be cutting for sign (footprints, debris, trash, spoor) which would indicate a recent group or vehicles. You also had static ground-sweeping radar. You had bike units which would operate further in from the border. You also had occasional aviation units when we could spare them.
In addition to this you have a large number of magnetic... Read More +
Yes. Well technically not for you to leave the country, but if you come back into the US (even as a US citizen) it is illegal to enter without crossing through a designated Port of Entry. Likewise you have no protection if you are apprehended by Mexican authorities (though they rarely watch their border).
Short answer: yes. Law enforcement work of any type has statistically been very hard on families and relationships. Unfortunately law enforcement officers have a much higher rate of substance abuse, suicide, etc. It's a high stress line of work, working long hours, and dealing with the bottom of society. A lot of people live fine, normal lives - but the numbers are pretty bad. High rate of divorce is common. I do think the BP might be better than some local LEO work. I was away for an average of 11 hours a day, so if you have loved ones or family, it can be very taxing.
That question will come up during your background investigation and/or polygraph test. I'm not sure what effect a positive answer would have in that situation. It is something that will come up for any government job which involves any level of security clearance though, and I doubt it can help.
Unfortunately in certain lines of work - those things you do on purpose or by accident as a young person can come back and bite you in the ass. I know several of my fellow agents had smoked weed before joining the BP, but I don't know if they answered truthfully during their background investigations.
Personally I think... Read More +
It's quite easy actually. During the interview/processing, it is very easy to establish whether someone is a citizen or not. This is also why we process everyone we catch. Once you're caught crossing the border (which, by the way, is illegal for U.S. citizens as well - you're required to cross at a designated Port of Entry, through customs etc.) you're processed into the immigration database.
O.T.M's frequently would travel with no documents, trying to masquerade as Mexicans (because it was easier to pretend to be a Mexican, and be returned to the border...as opposed to being flown back to their native country). ... Read More +
It would make a transition to ICE much easier, but the FBI is never easy to get into. They recruit very specific people from very specific fields. It can't hurt your chances, but I would not join the BP planning on simply switching over to the FBI. The FBI posts what they're looking for on their website. You'd be better off getting a degree that they're interested in.
Yep.
You can. I don't recommend it, for obvious reasons. This has been discussed previously.
US citizens will be prosecuted for human trafficking/smuggling charges.
Depends on the criminal history. If prosecuted, as long as needed. If not prosecuted, only 24 hours in the U.S.
I've never even heard of an ICE locator, but as ICE deals with internal immigration handling, if they have a locator it will only contain illegals who are serving jail time for other crimes. The BP does not keep an active record of people in custody since most illegals are returned within 24 hours.
If someone is killed along the border (bandits, cartel etc.) the body will be handled by the local police department as with any other homicide. If the person has no identification or records then they'll be buried without identity. This is pretty common, as many people who die in the desert are consumed by wildlife within... Read More +
Varies due to conditions of the smuggling (how many, how dangerous, previous criminal record, etc.).
No.
Illegal immigrants seldom end up in court. If they do, it is by their choice, selecting a "notice to appear" action where they will go and plead their case with an immigration judge. This seldom results in a different result. If a person has the means they may attempt to hire an immigration lawyer to aid them in their plea. This is not like normal criminal court, as the simple physical presence of a person in the US illegally is obvious proof of guilt. If an illegal immigrant goes to court for criminal charges they will get a normal defense lawyer as any other criminal.
Our dope (marijuana and otherwise) was picked up and disposed of by the DEA.
BORTAC is difficult and something you won't hop into without a few years in the field. BORTAC/SRT are small units, in a large agency so the competition is pretty fierce, but not impossible.
You'll be fine.
This has been answered in the questions above.
There is not a dictionary that I am aware of. A candidate must be fluent in English in order to be a BPA. Most of the trainees in my class who failed out of the academy had poor English skills and were unable to pass the classes and law tests. The law classes require excellent English as there is a lot of legal language which is extremely important to comprehend.
It's not forbidden...just stupid. A BPA going into Mexico does so at his own risk. Considering you'll be catching and apprehending thousands of illegal Mexicans, it's not exactly the smartest place to go. But there is not a policy against it.
If they discover you have been apprehended crossing the border illegally it will negatively impact your VISA application, particularly if you were deported (in which case you are unable to apply for 5 years, then 10 years, and then ever).
Honestly I don't even remember. If I recall they were quite simple, logic based questions - to verify that you're not a complete dolt. The part I was more concentrated on was the language aptitude part. That was, interesting.
Contact their consulate to directly contact the US and look into her status. If it was June, she's either in jail, or has already been flown back to Honduras. It is also likely she lied and said she was a Mexican in order to avoid being flown back.
It depends on where you are. I'd say our area was easily 80% Mexican, 15% OTM's from central and South America, and perhaps 5% from other countries. In California though you can run into large groups of orientals. I'm not sure what the overall percentages are. I believe this would probably be published somewhere - perhaps simply google it.
Technically yes, though in wildly different areas. BP patrols the border, while in theory ICE would be enforcing similar laws within the United States interior. However, in practice ICE does very little, as they're small and underfunded and can not adequately carry out their job. They end up handling immigration detainers from local prisons/jails etc. They also handle long-distance deportations by plane etc.
Not sure, as I have never worked a proper Port of Entry (POE). Perhaps you can find a customs guy on Jobstr who will have more experience with passport information.
I'm not sure where you'd find this kind of information compiled. It may be available directly through a CBP office. The term you'd be using is "OTM" (Other than Mexican). Each sector in the BP has a headquarters with various agents assigned to public relations etc. That would be the place to start.
It does not currently, and I doubt it did previously. If it's an offensive tattoo in an obvious location - possibly. No face tattoos or stupid nonsense on your knuckles/neck/etc.
Contact your consulate and have them contact CBP.
Not unless they have re-introduced the OR or "Own recognizance" statute. This was the ridiculously flawed and useless process used in the late 80's and early 90's whereby an illegal immigrant would sign a document stating he would return at a specific date to be processed and deported (due to lack of holding facilities). Needless to say...NONE of these people ever showed back up to be deported, and the immigration services had no way of tracking them down. So, back in the day? Yes. Currently? Not that I've heard of. Now, perhaps local police departments or Sheriff's offices do something like this... Read More +
With ICE? Probably very easy - FBI not so much. They're extremely high speed, and very picky. I only knew one BP guy who went over to the FBI and he was for all intents and purposes a rock star (top of his class, made sup' early, became SRT, then SRT sup' etc.). It is a great entry into federal law enforcement though. You'll do fine, and can likely go a lot of places. Also, remember there are a ton of agencies people have never heard of.
Nope. Once released from federal service for that kind of issue you won't be rehired.
MJ,
Not sure where Tubac is. Nogales is of course reasonable, and very busy. It would be "Border Patrol" though, as we're not pirates! And yes, you would visit other stations or sector headquarters to attend training or special classes. During days in which you are on the schedule for training you would be fine wearing your uniform out to lunch/dinner in the process. You're still on duty and should something silly happen you would respond and work as normal.
Being on the border we mostly caught the material (ie. dope) coming North. Occasionally though our units on the highway would grab a cash vehicle going back south (vehicles loaded with drug-profit cash heading back into Mexico). The only ones I remember were pretty low-dollar amounts ($7-10K). I'd imagine the serious cash is much better concealed/protected/transported.
I'd bet the DPS guys (Arizona's Highway Patrol) probably had more apprehensions along these lines.
Absolutely not. While the Border Patrol is paramilitary in its operations and organization, we still follow normal law enforcement procedures.
Most non-cartel related illegals are not bringing firearms here, though it does happen on occasion. They are often for self-defense from bandits etc., and not for use agains the Border Patrol. Remember, in Mexico firearms are "illegal", meaning only the powerful, rich, and cartels (who are both powerful and rich) have weapons.
The cartels on the other hand are extremely well armed, moreso than the Border Patrol. However, there is a small amount of common sense... Read More +
I have not personally, but it was not uncommon to come across the remnants of drug violence. The cartels did battle each other frequently North of the border. We'd occasionally happen across a shot up vehicle, or blood trails, occasionally a dead body or two. The really brutal stuff was mainly down South (chopped up bodies etc.)
I'd suspect Phoenix and Tucson PD had more encountered with drug deal scenes - our area was more trafficking and very little to no dealing.
I haven't been to that location so I couldn't tell you. Sorry.
Let me preface this answer by saying that I've never smoked marijuana. I had plenty of opportunities to in college, but I don't smoke and never felt the need to try it.
I do believe that it should be legalized though. It's a simple, non-deadly drug which is less harmful or dangerous than alcohol. Marijuana possession has stocked our prison system with millions of people who don't need to be there (though, due to being in prison - they often become criminals in the long run).
My opinion: legalize it, regulate it's production (so that it's safer) and tax the crap out of it.
I understand this would require... Read More +
That is probably mostly done for the camera. If you're within a mile or two of the border, everyone (including the illegals) knows what's going on. Many times they see agents and sit down. They know the drill. If you're operating on a highway or in another area you will identify yourself. Tourists or travellers who are not used to the border area won't know who/what you are etc.
I do believe it is policy to identify yourself...but the uniforms and big vehicles with "BORDER PATROL" on them, kind of give it away. Now, having said that - there are groups of bandits (Mexican criminals who actually prey... Read More +
This is explained in the previous answers to this type of question above.
Very often, but this depended very much on the season - needless to say, summer months were the worst. I could not give you a percentage, but my station would find perhaps 50+ bodies a year. Add another 100+ in serious physical distress.
Many of the causes of death could not be determined by a simple glance. In AZ a body will be taken down to bones in less than 72 hours. When encountering a dead body we would refer it to the local Indian Police who would call their detectives etc. We were not trained in that stuff, so we'd simply secure the scene.
With all the crime in the desert it was anybody's... Read More +
The process is the same. However, if the minor is unattended they are kept separated from the local population at processing centers, and the Mexican/Other consulate is notified for handling when they are returned to Mexico. They are cared for specially, but the overall process remains the same.
I have no experience on the Northern border so I can't really answer this question. I also don't understand what you mean by "for CBP to hassle...". If by hassle you mean they inspect you etc. when you come across - that's simply normal. I can't speak for what your definition of hassle is. As a LEO, I have seen plenty of people who get outrageously upset when we're simply doing our job.
Speaking from a Southern border perspective, sure everyone who enters the U.S. legally through a POE is recorded in some fashion.
For the record USCIS no longer exists. The new layout is now DHS (Department of Homeland... Read More +
The name doesn't ring a bell to me. I can't say I've ever heard of him.
Nope. Not even close.
I hate to make broad sweeping judgements about international affairs but I think it's safe to say that the situation is so wildly out of control it will never be "eliminated". The cartels are big enough that there simply is no way to wipe them out - even with conventional military forces.
It is much more out of control than you see on TV. The cartels are quite good about terrifying the media, reporters, news agencies etc. They strung up the mutilated bodies of two bloggers last year - hung them from a highway overpass. The bloggers had been saying negative things about the... Read More +
While I never encountered this (personally), the response would be the same. They would be apprehended, and a whole mess of phone calls would be made. I imagine some other agencies may get involved, etc.
However, if it was with good intentions and by accident, I believe the Mexican official would be apprehended, and offered a very quick Voluntary Return as most illegals get. Of course, he may get his ass chewed when he goes back South!
In some areas along the border, it's so mountainous and rugged that USBP or Mexican may have a darn hard time determining where the border actually is. As mentioned in... Read More +
While it's tough to really narrow down the variety of amusing/weird stuff that happened...it was pretty commonplace to find yourself thinking "What in the world?".
We caught a 17 year old kid after a 110 mile long pursuit...only to find out he was high on meth, wearing rainbow coloured socks (the type with the individual toes) professing "I don't even love that boy!". I've caught grown men wearing shirts in English that they don't understand (What is a girl like me doing in a place like this?) etc.
Stories with the local Indians are obnoxious and too...vile to post up here on a public website. I've seen a grown man... Read More +
While I never looked too hard into it, we had a couple of options. Each station would have a handful of specialized units: Horse Patrol, Bikes, ATV's, Radar Operators, EMT's, first responders, etc.
Then each sector (which consisted of 4-6 stations, sometimes more) would have an SRT team, and a BORSTAR team. These teams would draw agents from the stations, and you'd work out of the sector headquarters. These teams deployed throughout the sector and also worked a lot of local stuff with other law enforcement agencies and local police departments.
You had some national level units such as BORTAC which would deploy... Read More +
The cartels are so busy - they have much bigger fish to fry. That being said, any LEO should always be on their guard. You're definitely not the most popular person. As far as Mexico for vacation - I'm not that gullible. Any country that suffers 60,000 people killed over a five year span along the border doesn't get any tourist money from me. It's on the State Department's "not recommended" list, but it won't stop Americans from trying to save a buck on liquor etc.
I was and still am rather scrawny, so the academy was tough - but if I made it through, anyone should be able to. Regarding Spanish, they have eased the requirements significantly - but this is a bad move in my opinion. They teach very compartmented spanish in small blocks...so you learn commands vs. actually learning the language. You could always grab Rosetta Stone and start learning Spanish. It wouldn't hurt. The other alternative is to get a feisty Spanish-speaking girlfriend/boyfriend and learn the hard way.
It's simple night vision and FLIR as carried by the military and other law enforcement agencies. Also the "midnight sun" or ridiculous huge powerful flood lights.
I'm not entirely sure what happened to you. However, if you've been caught (by any law enforcement agency) with illegal substances it's often recorded by dispatch officers/personnel. If your license plate is run by other law enforcement officers/agents this information will pop up. This assists officers and agents in knowing what they're dealing with when they do a traffic stop. Prior arrests, detentions, and warnings etc. are noted in the large database.
Nope. Horrible. We had more issues, pursuits, assaults etc. from the Tohono O'odham people than we did from Mexican illegals. I'd say 75% of my encounters with TO's were negative. The vast majority of U.S. citizen smugglers we arrested were TO's. There is simply massive amounts of criminal activity on the reservation. Even some of the police and rangers were up to no good.
A drunk TO ran one of my ex-trainees off the road and killed him. We had numerous incidents where TO's would apprehend Mexican females and sexually assault/abuse them for weeks before someone found out.
There were... Read More +
Yes and no. In order to claim asylum a person must go before an immigration judge and provide substantial proof/evidence that his/her life is in danger. Essentially you can't just say "well, we have cartels and they're dangerous so I don't want to go back.".
You'd have to present a solid case that you, specifically, would be targeted for harm (as in some countries where citizens who practice certain religions are specifically targeted for execution/genocide etc.). I have no experience in the immigration courts, but I can imagine this is pretty tough to prove for the average illegal immigrant.
Now if an illegal... Read More +
Absolutely. That is, in fact, the only simple, legal way we'll ever stop the immigration problem. However, we, as BP agents are not part of that process. I.C.E. and other agencies handle that (or, don't handle that...).
I'm all for serious, crushing penalties for companies or individuals who hire illegals. I mean huge, business-destroying fines or serious jailtime. However, since we don't enforce this much at all, instead the U.S. market (and yes, unfortunately, our citizens) encourage more illegal immigration by readily hiring and pandering to illegals.
Americans would rather save a few bucks on their grocery bill.
This has been answered in a previous question above. Short answer: contact your consulate and have them contact the BP/law enforcement agency responsible.
That would depend entirely on the type of medication, what it effects and if it's a regulated substance etc. If it would affect your ability to drive, operate under stress, or handle machinery then I'd guess no. This is something you'd have to discuss with the doctor who would do your physical (or email a BP recruiting agent about it prior to applying).
This only happened a handful of times - but yes. It was also very common to catch illegals with our baggage tags on their packs from the day before. It was pretty common while preparing a deportation file to find the previous file had been done by an agent from our station.
With so many illegals and about 500 agents per station, it was a bit rare to catch the same person yourself. I can recall 3-4 times this happened to me personally. A couple were from days earlier and yes we recognized each other. The others I had caught the year before and one mentioned it to me, the other I realized when I was processing them in the system.
Never encountered any Cubans. I'd imagine they would get the same benefit - as that's more of an asylum-style issue. No experience with it though.
Very possible. Part of the background investigation process involves analysis of your financial situation. If you're too broke to pay some tickets, you are probably in pretty serious debt. This is frowned upon because a person who is in severe financial distress is more likely to accept bribes or other criminal payments.
Also, if you have warrants for "failure to appear" etc. this will be an issue. All of this will depend on the number of tickets, amount of money owed and your other financial situations.
I'm not sure. I know it is a hit against you, and it is a question which comes up in the interview process. It is enough to disqualify you for a large number of federal jobs though.
Jozelin,
While I don't have the contact information handy, you can contact Tucson Sector Headquarters and ask to speak with a recruiting agent. They will get you sorted out with the process, etc.
Nope, a felony drug charge will effectively nix the VISA application.
If you apply for the BP they will give you a couple of options of your initial station. If you accept one of these options they will then send you to the academy. If you refuse those options you are put back in the hiring pool and may have to wait a while. So, in theory you could wait until a station close to San Diego becomes available, but this may take years, etc. If you're actively pursuing the job, take whatever station you can get - and then you can attempt to move stations in about 2-3 years.
Did you get a job offer? I took the test, scored well and it took me a while to get an offer letter. It's up to you. There are a lot of excellent agents who scraped through the academy etc. If it's something you want to do, give it a shot. You won't know unless you try.
If you are accused of a crime and arrested, yes you can be deported. Fighting someone is not a crime. A little silly and immature, but not a crime. Now if you assault him, and charges are filed, yes you will be in violation of your immigration status and subject to the consequences.
Joining any specialty unit in the Border Patrol requires that you must have at least a year or two of field time. I worked with the Horse Patrol guys a lot, but I'm not sure if they were all previous horse riders. I'd think so, as it's not an easily learned skill. Also, be advised that the Horse Patrol is constantly on the verge of being cut out of the Border Patrol - as it is costly and time consuming to keep and maintain horses.
The Horse Patrol spends a lot of extra hours trailering and keeping up their horses. Sorry I can't be of more help on this question. I am comfortable suggesting that you should... Read More +
Not sure. When I entered service they were still doing a full background investigation, so there was no polygraph test administered. Can't help you there.
Sure, it would. The military can prepare you for a lot of stuff which translate over to the BP (as the BP is a very para-military organization). I had several Marines in my academy class. they were pretty squared away, but...oddly, they couldn't swim that well!? I'd probably suggest the Marines before the BP if you're young and looking to start a new life.
We do use dogs frequently, at least one or two per shift. They're very useful, but dogs are high maintenance because they can get injured paws etc. very easily out in the desert. I agree we should have had more of them. They're very effective. K9 handlers also have to have special vehicles, and get special compensation (extra pay) to cover the time they spend looking after the dog. They also do quite a bit of training, and we often used them at check points.
I think it's a matter of time/training/money that prevents us from having more.
I couldn't give you an answer on that. I only knew one Native American agent at my station of 450-500 agents. But I can not speak for other stations/sectors. I would imagine the percentage is incredibly small.
Honestly I can't remember. The logical reasoning portion is the easiest part of the exam though. I wouldn't stress over it. Sorry I can't recall the times - it might be explained in the paperwork prior to your test though.
Nope. In fact if he gets caught and deported again the ban will increase to 20 years. This is the penalty for breaking the law.
Yes. A foreign citizen who has remained in the U.S. on an expired visa is out of status and breaking the law. He is committing a crime by falsely remaining in the country outside of the conditions of his visa.
This is an interesting question. I'll simply say this: if you have committed crimes, felonies, etc. in the past - do not pursue becoming a federal agent. First, they'll likely not hire you, secondly - you're not in the right mindset, nor of the moral character to be doing this line of work.
If this is a concern for anyone who is taking the polygraph test - you should already leave the application process. They are not the kind of people we need, nor will hire.
It's pretty easy to pick them out. Many of the coyotes though are career coyotes. They've been doing this stuff for years, if not decades. We could very easily spot or figure out the coyotes if we caught them. However, they're normally pretty smart and would bail or abandon the group when they could tell agents were nearby. Illegals rarely 'turned in" coyotes, because they knew there could be repercussions for them later, back in Mexico etc.
Constantly. Needless to say in the desert it's not uncommon to find yourself dodging snakes, spiders and scorpions. On the TO Reservation where I worked they had free-roaming cattle and horses. Occasionally you'd get an angry bull which would try to charge Agents who were on foot. This was even mor exciting when you were on foot in the dark and could hear that sucker running. The TO Res. was also home to thousands of wild dogs (half dog/half coyote). We had several agents who were forced to shoot dogs which attacked them.
The main concern was hitting horses or cows on the highways. The TO Indians... Read More +
(See response below)
That's a shockingly broad general law enforcement question. It would depend solely on the warrant and circumstances of the raid. If agents see something in plain sight in your house or yard..yes...or if they are hot pursuit of a suspect, yes. There are a few instances where this is legal - many others where it is not. It's too broad of a question to begin to answer.
It will come up in your 5-year investigations, yes...though it would depend entirely on the nature of the circumstances. A child involved can impact your ability to perform your job without bias, or may lead to financial vulnerability.
Answered previously.
No. You could likely get rehired without a fuss, but you will go through most of the same stuff, and must attend the academy etc.
(Note: I deleted the duplicate question)
While it may be a little...inappropriate, I don't believe social interactions are against any kind of policy. This would be the same as a normal police officer asking someone out on a date.
An agent could not pull someone over just to try to socialize with them - that violates all sorts of policies. Likewise no law enforcement officer/agent is allowed to use their power to find out personal information about someone. An agent can not run a cute girl's license plate just to get her name/address etc. That stuff is against the law and will land an agent in jail.
If... Read More +
Good question. There are loads of things we likely "should" do, but many we don't. I assume you're referring to Canadian crossings, including booths and remote cameras. I have no experience up there, so I'm not sure how they operate.
I have no idea how Mexican citizenship works, and what they consider citizens. Since the children were born in the United States they are U.S. citizens. The United States does not recognize dual citizenship, so as far as our country is concerned they are U.S. citizens. I do not know how Mexico qualifies whether or not a person born abroad is a citizen or not.
I did not work at a border POE crossing, so I cannot tell you. If you're referring to crossing the border illegally...yes, a full sample of biographical information is collected (including finger prints etc.), and if you have a record it will show up.
Not likely. Any charges or convictions of domestic related violence prohibit a person from owning (or carrying) a firearm, which is obviously required for law enforcement.
Time to get the FBI involved. That's a huge ball of wax, but if you are stating that your husband abducted your children and fled the country you need to start by contacting local Law Enforcement and the FBI. This is an external/international matter.
No. You do not pay for anything while entering the BP (though you will have to pay for your flight to your duty station, or travel to Artesia, NM for the academy).
No. The SS card/green card etc. would be recorded as null and void. A simple scan would indicate that the Bosnian citizen is no longer legally entitled to be in the U.S.
Yep.
The overall effect is pretty significant. Mainly from deterrence and detection, as well as monitoring who is entering the country. If you're asking about interior checkpoints they're also pretty good. We used to catch loads of stuff trying to go around the checkpoint. This makes it really easy to catch. So, yes, they're pretty effective at both detection, deterrence and apprehensions. I can't speak for some of the really interior ones on distant highways though. No idea what they catch there.
When applying, DHS/CBP will ask what state you prefer to work in. This is no guarantee. When they make you a job offer they will provide you with a choice of 1-3 different stations, and you may choose which one you prefer. If you prefer to wait this is also possible, but then you lose your slot in line, with no guarantee a slot will open up where you want to work. You're better off joining wherever you can and then working 3-4 years and applying to move later.
This depended on the task, but everyday uniform wear included: Uniform trousers and shirt, soft body armor, duty belt with radio, handcuffs, collapsible steel baton, flashlight, leatherman, pistol, pistol magazines, keepers and occasionally a spare pouch for a gps, and sometimes a medical pouch. In your pockets you'd bring a knife or two, handheld gps, notepads, pens, batteries for all of your stuff. You'd always bring a pair or two of gloves for searching stuff, boots. When out on foot for any length of time you'd take a camelbak with water, some food, etc. If needed a shotgun or M4 carbine was available. You'd... Read More +
I have no experience with the Canadian border or immigration officers. Can't help you there.
It's a complete mixed bag. The job is a lot of hours, a lot of hard work, and can be very depressing when your own country doesn't really care. Some guys love the job. Other guys put up with it. I personally quit because I ended up hating the agency. So, it depends on the person and what you consider important/valuable.
You mean that she's been in Mexico for 13 years, or that she's been in the U.S. for 13 years and recently went back to Mexico and was caught coming in? If she's legally applying for status or citizenship then she's just made a huge mistake. Illegal entries during the application process will negate the application completely and she will be refused entry. If she has been deported, she will have a 5 year ban on legal application, and a subsequent deportation will result in a further ban (I believe it's 10 or 20 years). There is no point in breaking the law while trying to legally do something.
Again, I can't help you - but only because our checkpoints were all temporary. We did not have any large scale traffic checkpoints (like in Las Cruces) in our area. If they look like radar equipment they could be ground radar systems based around the checkpoints which scan for areas out to each side - detecting people or traffic which is trying to cut around the checkpoint.
Some checkpoints have tractor trailer scanning equipment, which essentially X-Rays the contents of large trailer boxes. I'm not sure. No real experience at a "proper" checkpoint. Talk about a job I'd never want though...I'm really glad... Read More +
No, I do not believe there is a limit on the number of times you can take the exam.
You can be prosecuted for human smuggling...and thus potentially spend a long time in jail.
I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to. However, a person illegally in the U.S. will forfeit any legal application process, as they have violated the law. You may not enter the U.S. legally until you have all papers (visa, permanent resident etc.) finalized.
This is the easiest way to completely ruin your chances of entering the country legally. Likewise, this will possibly come up in your application process during the background investigation.
I can not give you a direct answer, but it doesn't sound like a good situation.
That is something which is handled by ICE or DEA. The BP operates some Disrupt teams who work with local LEO's on special tasks like that. It is not under the jurisdiction or a normal BP office though and is handled at Sector level.
I'm not sure. This is something you'll have to contact Customs directly, or an agent who has worked POE's. We did not have one in our station's area of responsibility so I never worked in one.
Not if you've been deported. If you have a voluntary return, perhaps. I haven't seen it done, but I never worked with the immigration lawyers.
Well, becoming a K9 handler is pretty tough. If you start out in a normal station, you can expect to wait 4-6 years minimum to get one. If you're at a smaller station and no one else wants to be a K9 handler you may pick one up sooner. You do have to attend some classes, and a selection process. You do not purchase your own dog - it would be issued if you're selected to become a K9 handler. It's a good, very time consuming gig --- but don't expect it right out of the academy. Being a K9 handler is a rather coveted position so it's more often than not given to senior agents.
We had a lot of guys with tattoos in the BP. Not many guys with full sleeves though. I suppose this wouldn't be a big deal unless the tattoos were of a graphic nature etc. Even then you could theoretically wear the long sleeve duty uniform shirt. I'm not sure, but I do not believe it is a huge deal. It's nowhere near as strict as the military standards for tattoos etc.
There was not much to do on duty to keep your morale high. Off-duty, always just get as far away from work as possible. I moved 40 miles from my station so that on my days off I wasn't seeing anything work-related (short of illegal immigrants all over Phoenix, AZ). The key is to remember it's nothing more than a job. Do your job, come home and carry on with the rest of your life.
Well, the BORTAC guys work even more, and are subject to callouts, as they are essentially on-call. Any relationship is doable, but a relationship which is weak to start out with, will not survive a LEO career of any sort. Also, if your loved one is in that line of work you should choose your fights carefully. Sometimes a LEO will encounter a bunch of serious messed up stuff (dead children, bodies, abuse, etc.) on duty and then come home only for his/her spouse to get angry over something stupid --- this will ignite a fight, etc. So, yes it's pretty darn tough. But, not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.
You are not required to have a college degree to join the BP. However, if you do, and achieve a 3.0 or better GPA you will qualify to join at a higher pay grade. If I were you, I'd finish the college degree. That's much more important for your future than just about anything else. It is, however, not required in order for you to join.
Sorry, it's been over 7 years. I have no idea how long we were given (heck I don't even know if the test is still the same!)
You can't study for a reasoning test. It's akin to a common sense test. You either have it, or you don't.
Not very good. Having an illegal immigrant in the family is a violation because you would be a federal agent with knowledge of someone violating a federal law. This is a question which is covered during your background investigation. This would obviously also call into question your motivation behind applying for the job.
The 4th amendment is fine, however there are numerous legal exceptions which apply to a certain radius from all international borders. The 4th amendment is also a constituional amendment which provides rights and guarantees to U.S. citizens, not illegal immigrants.
SB1070 passed shortly after I left the BP. The USBP is 100% busy all of the time in Tucson Sector, so if anything it would have put more strain on us, due to a possible increase in local law enforcement apprehending illegals. The actual passage did not affect the way we do business, as our authority is almost entirely immigration based.
I'd imagine there was a spike in OA (other agency) calls, and I'd like to hope that ICE in Phoenix got hammered by Sheriff Joe with more apprehensions.
This has been answered several times before. Contact the Mexican consulate.
Contact the consulate of his country.
Will there always be a need? Sure. Will that need justify the expense? Unknown. They are good to have, but expensive and time consuming so it's up to the sector if they feel they can justify them.
It can take a long time. An 85 is likely enough to get into the academy. If they're not on a hiring push, or are on a hiring freeze (most agencies were due to the sequester - so it backed everything up). I scored a 92 or something and it took a while for them to call me, and that was during the hiring push. It may take a while.
Criminal records have varying degrees on passport applications. If you have been issued proper legal paperwork, you're good to go. Background checks and criminal checks will not take place at a border checkpoint unless you are acting suspiciously etc.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by paying for the plane ticket of an OTM. Do you mean paying to expedite the return of an OTM to his/her original country, as opposed to them waiting for the OTM flight? I do not believe so. An OTM who is apprehended is being held in a detention center as they have broken the law.
If you have concerns about a relative or friend who may have been apprehended you will have to contact your consulate, who in turn will contact the U.S. and the immigration services. OTM's are held at a number of federal detention centers and processing centers, where they await the return flight to their country of origin.
Simple interrogation can break anyone and catch them in a lie.
The BP is not like the military. You may quit whenever you feel like it. Some people get in, and leave within a few months because they don't like it or they found something else. You do not sign a contract or anything of that nature. I'm not entirely sure on the school support. I know a buddy of mine was given a leave of absence to finish his law school classes. The BP did not cover it. You'd have to contact someone with more time in than myself. Perhaps call one of the sector headquarters, or submit a question via the DHS/CBP website.
No idea. That's a customs question, not my line of work. Sorry.
I have no idea what impact that will have on his application to the Marines, sorry. That is a question best suited for his recruiting office.
No, but the vehicle used will be entered in the system, and you'll be spending a while answering questions if you show up in that vehicle. If you were not particularly detained/apprehended it should not be a problem. Stop hangin' out with criminals.
They go to jail for smuggling illegal immigrants.
The name sounds familiar, but I'm not sure. If they're the volunteer assistant police to the TO's, then I have no idea. I never saw them working.
This depends on where you are, and what is occurring. Many states and locations have laws preventing people from filming or recording people who are working without their consent. I do not believe it is a felony. However you could not go into a McDonalds and film people against their consent or you'd be asked to leave as its private property. We were often filmed or photographed...I was even cursed by an Indian witch doctor (yep!). Normally it's not illegal. There are certain security precautions though around port-of-entries (legal entry points into the US) where filming and audio recordings are illegal... Read More +
Yep, illegal relationships or family members will eliminate you immediately.
You can report people to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) but you'd have to provide a lot of information regarding proof that they are here illegally. Also, if a person crosses the border illegally their "reason" doesn't matter. It is still a crime.
He would not be able to work for the BP has a temporary Visa holder. Only when he gets full and permanent citizenship could he apply.
Troll elsewhere.
Yes, you can in the field. Obviously not in a station or holding area. Most agents tend to use dip in the field though, as cigarette smoke immediately gives away your location. As long as you're not in a government building, you can smoke. I don't believe they'd want you smoking at a POE or other check point location while working with people though. In the desert, patrolling? Sure.
Nope. This has been discussed several times before.
Nope.
If I had to make an educated guess in our AOR when I was working, perhaps 30% or so were actually apprehended. That doesn't count people who are caught later or further in the country (which is exceedingly rare). We'd catch about 75% of the people we detected, spotted or picked up on radar etc. However there are loads of groups/people/drugs that we never detected (but would find signs of later).
No. As with all federal agencies the USBP "Use of Force" policy is very strict and is solely based around defending the agent and other innocent people. Almost every other country in the world is different. Entering almost any other country can get you shot for simply entering illegally.
No idea. You'd have to speak to a customs guy. I'm sure there are certain regulations in place regarding the importation of corpses.
You can be prosecuted for smuggling illegal aliens.
No.
Nope. He will be deported.
Nope.
Not unless it is on your property and your state laws allow you to do so. Certain states will allow you to shoot someone invading your home property if you feel threatened. Most will not. This is why you see a large number of Americans being forced from their homes along the border, because the immigrants/cartels have made it impossible to stay there or live there safely.
This depends entirely on the nature of his apprehension and whether he was returned voluntarily, deported, if he served any jail time, has a prior criminal record etc. If you're going through paperwork make sure to contact a qualified immigration lawyer to assist you.
This varies completely from vehicle to vehicle, station to station, and sector to sector. While an agent may not have direct access to X, Y or Z...he is always in radio contact with the station and sector, so information is readily available.
I do not believe there is a limit. Please call the hiring office in Minnesota (should be listed on your paperwork) to confirm if there is a limit.
This depends entirely on the situation. You accomplish both: tend to the injured and apprehend those it's possible to apprehend.
Wait for him to contact someone. Oh, and get new friends.
Yes, the BP have a couple of different special teams which operate in various sectors. These are run by sector level and often with fellow law enforcement agencies (both local and federal). Not very often, but yes.
No. His record and prints will still be in the U.S. immigration system database.
Yes, because she has tried to enter illegally (even worse with false documents) she can now not apply to enter the US legally for either 5 or 10 years (depending on which one they selected and how many times she was caught). If she's caught she will be deported again. If she is caught several times, she will be placed in jail. The child is inconsequential.
Not sure, most parts of the border are not marked (as you noted). However, international law is international law and depends solely on the violated state's policies. If Mexico has strict border policies (which are obviously not enforced at all given the current state of thins) a border patrol agent would be at their mercy. I do imagine if it was an honest mistake, it might be resolved between governments. Once a person enters another country illegally they are solely at the mercy of the country they entered (regardless of LEO affiliation etc.).
Yes.
He could be. Depends on his criminal record and other issues he may have had.
Yes. You will not be able to join the Patrol as you have illegal family members.
Yes, look up 1811 or CBP agent on USAJobs.gov (the US federal job site). There may be no listing currently (there is only a listing when the BP needs new agents).
There is no process. You can contact the local Sheriff/Police Department and attempt to file a missing person's report. However if you can not verify that the family member did cross the border they may not accept the report. Crossing international borders is dangerous and illegal. A person is responsible for their own actions and safety.
Most other countries have severly strict laws regarding border breaches. In fact, many countries retain the right to shoot you. America has some of the softest immigration/border policies in the world (which is why we have this problem).
Crossing the border legally? No. Illegally? Absolutely.
False. The BP will apprehend an individual illegally in the country, regardless of medical conditions or injuries. An agent will be assigned to watch the apprehended individual throughout their medical stay at the hospital. An illegal immigrant may be processed at the hospital and can then be turned over to a medical facility in Mexico as a standard VR (voluntary return).
You do understand that nearly 65% of the 18,000 Border Patrol Agents are of hispanic background? Legal U.S. citizens. This is why they're in the BP, to prevent illegals from abusing the system they spent years and money properly going through to become citizens themselves.
A vehicle used for illegal trafficking of persons or narcotics will be seized, regardless of the owner's position. This vehicle will then be sold at a government auction or destroyed.
Yes. You would immediately be removed from the application process.
Look up your local I.C.E or CBP station and contact them for further guidance.
Legally? Yes. Not smart, but you can.
Yes. It is illegal for any person, citizen or not, to enter the United States without going through a designated port of entry (be it land border, airport, or seaport).
No.
If you cannot gain the information from USAJobs.gov (government jobs website) he can try to contact a BP station and inquire there. Most stations have community relations agents which can assist in applying for the job.
The Border Patrol would contact local police in both Mexico and the United States and they would jointly investigate the scene and determine who would take possession of the body, etc.
Sure, this does happen on occasion. Sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. There was an agent at my station (my class actually) who was dating a Mexican citizen who was here on a visa. Unbeknownst to the agent the visa had expired. The Mexican actually became abusive and during an investigation by local police - this was revealed. The agent resigned immediately.
Nope.
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