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

does being a border patrol affect spending time with your family?

Asked by lynn about 12 years ago

Short answer: yes.  Law enforcement work of any type has statistically been very hard on families and relationships.  Unfortunately law enforcement officers have a much higher rate of substance abuse, suicide, etc.  It's a high stress line of work, working long hours, and dealing with the bottom of society.  A lot of people live fine, normal lives - but the numbers are pretty bad.  High rate of divorce is common.  I do think the BP might be better than some local LEO work.  I was away for an average of 11 hours a day, so if you have loved ones or family, it can be very taxing.

can I apply to be a border patrol agent if someone in the house hold is illegal

Asked by ibxlegend almost 12 years ago

You can try, but don't bother.  This will come up in your application process, and you'll be disqualified.

Could I use the border patrol explorer program as a Job-Related Experience on the border patrol written exam.

Asked by Mr.305 about 12 years ago

I have no idea.  The exam is made for people who have no prior Border Patrol experience, so I am not sure you'd have a big advantage.

Hi, my husband was caught entering usa without inspection and was 16 at the time but lied to immigration officer stating he was 18 is this an offence when applying for status? He lied because the smuggler told him he had to say that and he was young

Asked by Janie about 12 years ago

Not sure, I have no experience in status applications.  That would be a question better addressed to the officers you're dealing with during the application process.

If you did weed once when you where 17 will that stop you from becomeing a border patrol agent

Asked by Mr.305 about 12 years ago

That question will come up during your background investigation and/or polygraph test.  I'm not sure what effect a positive answer would have in that situation.  It is something that will come up for any government job which involves any level of security clearance though, and I doubt it can help.

Unfortunately in certain lines of work - those things you do on purpose or by accident as a young person can come back and bite you in the ass.  I know several of my fellow agents had smoked weed before joining the BP, but I don't know if they answered truthfully during their background investigations.

Personally I think weed should be legalized, but I imagine it might depend on the person doing your background investigation.

is there any way to know about a family member that was cought crosing the border ?

Asked by brittany12 over 12 years ago

There is no release of information from a station or sector level.  An illegal immigrant is only kept in custody at a station for less than 24 hours (often not more than 12).  As a safety precaution we do not release information/names/locations of individuals in custody.

A person can contact the Mexican/Other consulate within 24-36 hours and they should keep a record of people returned to their country.  In the event that an illegal immigrant is sent to jail or prosecuted they will eventually get a chance to make a phone call/contact relatives etc. (like a normal incarcerated/prosecuted person).

 

If I know someone was caught entering the border but cant find them on the ICE locator what do I do. If he was killed how do I find his body?

Asked by karen about 12 years ago

I've never even heard of an ICE locator, but as ICE deals with internal immigration handling, if they have a locator it will only contain illegals who are serving jail time for other crimes.  The BP does not keep an active record of people in custody since most illegals are returned within 24 hours.

If someone is killed along the border (bandits, cartel etc.) the body will be handled by the local police department as with any other homicide.  If the person has no identification or records then they'll be buried without identity.  This is pretty common, as many people who die in the desert are consumed by wildlife within 24-36 hours, so identification becomes nearly impossible unless identification is carried by the person.

If a citizen of another country is found dead, and identified then the police department will likely contact their country of origin an attempt to locate relatives.