With just 17,600 agents assigned to cover 19,000 miles of land and sea borders, the U.S. Border Patrol's task is a formidable one. From its roots of mounted agents on horseback, the Border Patrol's core responsibility--to stop illegal aliens from entering the United States--has expanded to include anti-terrorism and gang initiatives, as well as crackdowns on drug trafficking and human smuggling. Agents must work outdoors, often at night or in other disagreeable conditions, as they confront dangerous suspects and multitask to a degree not required of other law enforcement agencies. For those who relish these challenges and can deal with the job's lifestyle, the rewards can be great.
History
Early enforcement efforts proved haphazard, at best. In 1904, mounted watchmen from the U.S. Bureau of Immigration roamed as far west as California to stop illegal aliens, which proved difficult with 75 agents assigned to the job. To bolster those efforts, Congress responded in 1915 by creating a system of mounted inspectors with greater enforcement powers--which, at times, required assistance from the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers. Sensing a greater need, Congress established the Border Patrol in 1924 as a sub-unit of the U.S. Department of Labor, and later with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, under the Department of Justice. This configuration remained in place until President Bush's sweeping reorganization of police and anti-terrorism activities. The INS ceased to exist, and the Border Patrol merged into the Department of Homeland Security. The agency's tasks were also spread out among the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Geography
Agents are specifically charged with patrolling roughly 6,000 miles of the common borders with Canada and Mexico, as well as some 2,000 miles of coastal waterways in and around Florida, and the island of Puerto Rico. Additionally, agents will often work in isolated communities to prevent the unauthorized movement of drugs, illegal aliens and terrorists through the line watch--the formal term for round-the-clock surveillance from covert positions.
Function
Throughout its existence, the Border Patrol's mission has rarely strayed from its main task of combating illegal immigration and drug activity, with most of its efforts concentrated on the U.S.-Mexican border--particularly the southwestern states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Following the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration added anti-terrorism work to the Border Patrol's responsibilities--an expectation that has since receded, following renewed outcry among border-state residents against the impact of illegal immigration. Agents also spend time on airborne surveillance; check farms, ranches and other job sites for signs of undocumented workers, and interpret signs of marks, tracks or other physical evidence.
Considerations
Hiring requirements and conditions differ significantly, even from other law enforcement agencies. A comprehensive physical evaluation is required to determine if the applicant can perform the physically demanding tasks associated with the job. Fluency in Spanish is not a condition of employment, but is mandated for prospective agents wishing to continue on the job. Oral interviews are also given to determine an applicant's emotional maturity, judgment skills and ability to work well with others, evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Finally, applicants are expected to disclose personal issues that could significantly impact their standing as an agent, such as credit problems, or minor misdemeanor convictions. Failure to do so can result in being barred from pursuing federal employment. Due to all these requirements, the agency itself estimates that new applicants need five months to get through the process.
Benefits
Advancement prospects are considered excellent, given the agency's explosive growth over the last few years to keep pace with its increased responsibilities According to the agency's own Web page, newly hired agents can expect salaries in the low $40,000 range, which can increase to the $50,000 level after documentation of satisfactory job performance. Agents further along the career ladder can look forward to salaries of $70,000 or greater--including holiday, overtime or night pay--as well as the opportunity to compete for higher-level management positions. Unlike most private-sector jobs, agents can accumulate sick and vacation time, which they build up depending on how long they have served. Although retirement is mandatory by age 57, agents are eligible for special benefits in that categor as well, offering another enticement away from the private sector.
Tags: Border Patrol, illegal aliens, agents assigned, determine applicant, enforcement agencies