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.

Did you ever come across a scene like the one from No Country For Old Men where it was just total death and carnage after a drug deal gone bad?

Asked by zark over 11 years ago

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. 

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.

What's the biggest haul of cold hard cash you've found in a bust, and what happens to it after it's seized? Does your department get to keep any of it?

Asked by lqp5 over 11 years ago

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.

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 about 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). 

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 about 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.