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

can a person that was caught crossing the border illegaly pay a fine and get released to a family member living in the United States

Asked by erika over 10 years ago

No.

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 11 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.

On August 9 I got cut crossing the border illegally into the us, that is the first time I get cut, do you think I still have a chance to obtain a work visa so i can get into the us legally?

Asked by anrobledo08@gmail.com over 11 years ago

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). 

FOLLOWING THE QUESTION BEFORE: affects me, do border patrol provide a dictionary for those who do not understand english?

Asked by Jose M. over 11 years ago

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.

how hard is it to get a job as a bortac agent, or even a regular border patrol agent job after serving six years as an infantryman in the army?

Asked by jesse over 11 years ago

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. 

I recently passed the BP test and sent all my documentation. I also have a law degree and am fully bilingual (native). I'm very excited, however, FBI and ICE were my first choices (no job openings right now). How easy would it be to crossover later?

Asked by janjo over 11 years ago

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.

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 almost 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.