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385 Questions

Last Answer on November 08, 2016

How does recruitment for specialized units such as H.I.D.T.A and similar local/federal task force assignments work at the federal level? Are there specialized units at the station level?

Asked by L.E.O. 504 over 13 years ago

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 on special assignments around the country. You also had "National SRT" and "National BOSTAR" etc. which were also nationally deployed. If I understand correctly, units such as BORTAC used to be employed outside of the U.S. (countering drug cartels in Central/South America) but are no longer used abroad.

These teams are obviously on call for any overly serious incidents. During things like Katrina the entire BP BORSTAR/BORTAC/SRT community is put on standby and many of them were utilized for SAR duties etc. When President Bush spoke at our Academy, the national SRT and BORTAC units were there to work with the Secret Service etc.

So it varies, but typical the real special type units begin at the sector level. I never worked in any of these units, though I frequently worked alongside them. Take the information here with a grain of salt as it may have changed or may be much more detailed than I have put forth here.

1406 Votes

What is the funniest/most unbelievable situation you have seen/dealt with so far?

Asked by Tina over 13 years ago

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 run full speed into a gigantic sajuaro cactus. I've had stray dogs lead me to groups of illegals because the dogs knew they'd get food (free K-9's!). We had a couple of white trash fellows shooting a handgun at an IED. When detonated by the bomb squad, the IED was big enough to blow up a truck, so I feel those guys were lucky.

Every day just had really...odd things that would happen. These become pretty normal though, so they don't seem weird until you sit back and think about them for a while.

1389 Votes

Do you worry at all that the cartels know who you are or keep files on U.S. Border Patrol agents to target them either in the US or if they ever go down to Mexico for vacation or something?

Asked by brig4 over 13 years ago

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.

1376 Votes

The thing that worries me is the Spanish and being physically fit enough. What do you recommend I could do to train for the academy?

Asked by Mr.305 about 13 years ago

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.

1364 Votes

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If you could please tell me about the technology used by the helicopter pilots to view people on the ground at night. What is it called and how does it work?

Asked by CL Smith about 13 years ago

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.

1346 Votes

I was stopped by a border patrol checkpoint and found "shake" and now i'm in the system what does that mean?

Asked by MV about 13 years ago

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.

1330 Votes

Was part of your job investigating US business to make sure they weren't employing illegals? Don't you think that's part of the problem: if Americans were more forcefully deterred from hiring illegals, there'd be less reason for them to come?

Asked by Jackie over 13 years ago

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.

1330 Votes

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Border Patrol Agent

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How does recruitment for specialized units such as H.I.D.T.A and similar local/federal task force assignments work at the federal level? Are there specialized units at the station level?

What is the funniest/most unbelievable situation you have seen/dealt with so far?

Do you worry at all that the cartels know who you are or keep files on U.S. Border Patrol agents to target them either in the US or if they ever go down to Mexico for vacation or something?

The thing that worries me is the Spanish and being physically fit enough. What do you recommend I could do to train for the academy?

Also on Jobstr...

If you could please tell me about the technology used by the helicopter pilots to view people on the ground at night. What is it called and how does it work?

I was stopped by a border patrol checkpoint and found "shake" and now i'm in the system what does that mean?

Was part of your job investigating US business to make sure they weren't employing illegals? Don't you think that's part of the problem: if Americans were more forcefully deterred from hiring illegals, there'd be less reason for them to come?

Border Patrol Agent

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

How does recruitment for specialized units such as H.I.D.T.A and similar local/federal task force assignments work at the federal level? Are there specialized units at the station level?

What is the funniest/most unbelievable situation you have seen/dealt with so far?

Do you worry at all that the cartels know who you are or keep files on U.S. Border Patrol agents to target them either in the US or if they ever go down to Mexico for vacation or something?

The thing that worries me is the Spanish and being physically fit enough. What do you recommend I could do to train for the academy?

Also on Jobstr...

If you could please tell me about the technology used by the helicopter pilots to view people on the ground at night. What is it called and how does it work?

I was stopped by a border patrol checkpoint and found "shake" and now i'm in the system what does that mean?

Was part of your job investigating US business to make sure they weren't employing illegals? Don't you think that's part of the problem: if Americans were more forcefully deterred from hiring illegals, there'd be less reason for them to come?

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