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

I know that the Border Patrol buys its dogs from independent vendors, so I am wondering if the Border Patrol has a standard for the dogs it uses?

Asked by C L Smith about 12 years ago

The vast majority of our canines (at least our normal detection/tracking canines) were actually imported from the German Border Police (Bundesgrenschutz) canine school.  Most of the dogs we received had actually failed bite-dog school, and had been repurposed.  This is why our K9 operators use many commands in German, as opposed to English.

Right before I left the BP was starting its bite-dog program, but they had a silly politically correct name for it (Patrol K9's was the term they used) because they were afraid of scaring people (?).  I do not know where the bite-dogs were sourced from.

All of the dogs I worked with were from the German schools.

Do you receive any training or education on Intelligence while on the Border Patrol?
Also, what are the chances of starting as a BPA and crossing over to the intelligence division of Homeland Security? Or other federal agencies (ICE, FBI, ICE)?

Asked by janjo about 12 years ago

You get very very basic intelligence training, but nothing that will make you stand out.  In fact those courses were FLETC courses and not the BP courses, so they may not even include them anymore.

Like everything else, the BP does have intel units.  However these units are small, and very difficult to land (normally going to senior agents).  If you were able to get into intel in the BP, then yes I'd imagine there would be a decent amount of crossover.

I am currently doing a certificate in Intelligence Analysis with an online university as that field interests me as well.  I would probably suggest getting some college credits or degrees in intelligence if that's really what your end goal is.  Of course, working in the BP would give you the money to do so.

Good luck!

Did you ever find yourself dehumanizing the Mexicans you caught along the border? Like did you got so desensitized to your job that you began to see them as pests? Or did you always view them with the same dignity you'd view anyone else?

Asked by JBaskin over 12 years ago

You never end up dehumanizing people.  That being said, business is business, work is work, and the law is the law.  Our job isn't to hug and nurture people, it's to apprehend them and secure the border as best as possible.

In that regard you become like most seasoned EMT's and nurses...you're doing your job.  The emotional baggage is best left behind.  Anyone in a line of service (EMT's, firefighters, paramedics, cops etc.) definitely gets very accustomed to "crap".  You run into enough tragedies, evil, wickedness, violence, abuse etc. that you become quite accustomed to it.  You just accept it and move along with your job.

The people we apprehended were dealt with quickly, efficiently and professionally.  We don't coddle people, but we don't beat them or treat them like animals etc.

what happens if you are caught trying to cross the boarder with a fake visa and not arrested? does it count against you if you try and get a visa?

Asked by ana almost 12 years ago

Yep.

My cousin from Albania went to Mexico and entered into the Us illegally and is now in a jail in Texas, if we get a good lawyer what is his chance of being able to remain in the US

Asked by Emily about 12 years ago

Pretty much zero chance.  He will likely be flown back to Albania on an ICE flight.

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 11 years ago

No.

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).