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.
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.
I'm not entirely sure, but I'd believe so. Children are always at the mercy of their parents decision, regardless of their citizenship. A case would have to be made to the authorities (child protective services) to warrant removing the children from their parents.
Yep.
Pretty much zero chance. He will likely be flown back to Albania on an ICE flight.
CPR Trainer
Day Care Provider
Hotel Front Desk Agent
Varies due to conditions of the smuggling (how many, how dangerous, previous criminal record, etc.).
You can. I don't recommend it, for obvious reasons. This has been discussed previously.
We have a lot of the border under surveillance, but it's never enough. Also the desert is an extremely diverse environment. Dense brush, cliffs, outcroppings, washes (dry creekbeds), etc. make it very difficult to observe all of it.
Places with open expanses do rely on large networks of cameras. All along the border we also have sensors or various types (magnetic, seismic etc.) to detect groups and vehicles. However these don't always work, and are often set off by cattle or locals, or even BP Agents etc.
I worked for a bit over a year and a half in radar trucks which are fantastic. However these are expensive, and we never had enough of them. They were placed in high traffic areas. They were extremely effective - moreso than any other tactic we used.
Also, it's very common for BP Agents to detect, sight, or even chase a group and not catch it. So our detection numbers may be high, but actual apprehension numbers much lower. It would not be uncommon to have more groups on my radar screen than I had assets to pursue. You'd simply prioritize and catch as many as you could.
So, the theory is sound - but in practice is extremely difficult to monitor the entire border as it stands now. Also, groups/cartel guys learn where the cameras are, and simply avoid them. You do see more tunnels in areas which feature heavy camera presence.
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