Border Patrol Agent

Border Patrol Agent

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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

385 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on November 08, 2016

Best Rated

What happens to the people when they cross the border illegally?

Asked by Ryleigh over 12 years ago

This has been answered in the questions above.

You said that Al Qaeda is looking to leverage the cartels' intel and such -- are the cartels thought to be friendly to such requests? Do they care at all as long as they get paid? Or would that guarantee to bring a ton of heat on them from the US?

Asked by baconops over 12 years ago

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 simple to catch trucks driving through the desert carrying dope, or catching large groups of illegals walking blatantly across the border.

But small, secret tunnels, small nearly-undetectable ultralight aircraft, etc. are much harder to locate.  I suspect any genuine terrorist activity is kept well below our radar.  Imagine the funds available to Al Qaeda, Hezbollah etc.  I'm sure they can make it financially worthwhile to the cartels to assist them.

I think it deserves some serious attention - and we have intelligence agencies pursuing this exact possibility.  I wish I knew more about it to answer more appropriately.

Hello, I' m scheduled to take the written exam next month. How many question do they ask you for the logical reasoning, and if they are similar in difficulty as shown in the preparation manual U.S. Border Patrol.

Asked by Joe over 12 years ago

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.

there was this girl form Honduras that crossed the border and border patrol caught but her family haven't heard from her since June what can they do?

Asked by MLG about 12 years ago

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.

Who represents illegal immigrants in court when they are caught?

Asked by Gerardo almost 12 years ago

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.

In 2008 I was hired for the border patrol but was let go from the Academy because I had cheated on a test. I have since then joined the Army deployed etc. I have reapplied is their any chance I will get hired?

Asked by Robert about 12 years ago

Nope.  Once released from federal service for that kind of issue you won't be rehired.

I'm a writer. A character's brother is a Boarder Patrol Agent in AZ-Lives in Tubac and works in Nogales U.S. Does this seem feasible? Lives/works can change.
Do u go 2 other cities 4 meetings, etc, & would you wear your uniform out 2 eat after mtg?

Asked by MJ almost 12 years ago

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.