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.

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Last Answer on November 08, 2016

Best Rated

Hello, I read one of your replies on 3/15/2013 and you said that, " The theory is that illegal immigrants will be intercepted/apprehended within 25-50 miles of the international border." With ICE catching some, so ICE and BP work together?

Asked by Janice over 11 years ago

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.

I am looking for documents on other nationalities caught crossing the Mexican border other than Mexicans or South Americans. Where can I find this data? Anything would be helpful thank you.

Asked by KB almost 12 years ago

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.

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 about 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.

Also seen on TV--it was shown that BP has a site where it takes all the seized marijuana to be burned at various times of the years. Is this something that's contracted out or does BP take care of it 100%? How are other seized drugs disposed of?

Asked by CL Smith about 12 years ago

Our dope (marijuana and otherwise) was picked up and disposed of by the DEA.

Who represents illegal immigrants in court when they are caught?

Asked by Gerardo over 11 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.

What percentage of illegals attempting to cross the border would you estimate are successfully intercepted by Border Patrol? Is that figure improving or worsening compared to past years?

Asked by Quezon over 12 years ago

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.

Is there a point where Border Patrol's jurisdiction ends and regular law enforcement's begins? I mean, at some point a crosser who evades US Border Patrol will be far enough North to just be IN the country and a problem for USCIS and not you, right?

Asked by apchick over 12 years ago

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.