Supplemental Section to ITP s Comprehensive Study Guide to Becoming a Border Patrol Agent

Transcription

1 Supplemental Section to ITP s Comprehensive Study Guide to Becoming a Border Patrol Agent I. Introduction Welcome to the Supplemental Section to ITP s Comprehensive Study Guide to Becoming a Border Patrol Agent. This portion of the guide contains substantial information about what the US Customs and Border Protection Agency. It seeks to enlighten you about the agency and the various facets of becoming a Border Patrol Agent. The aim of ITP s Comprehensive Study Guide to Becoming a Border Patrol Agent is to help you review for and ultimately pass the test. That is not the goal of the Supplemental Section. Rather, this seeks to inform and prepare you for life as an agent and the various opportunities that are in store for you as you follow this career path. It also enlightens you about the rich and courageous history of the Border Patrol while providing other interesting and useful bits of data, news and other information that will inspire you to proceed on your journey with confidence. Who needs to read the Supplemental Section? If you ve already passed the US Border Patrol Entrance Examination and want to know more about the CBP, then this section is where you ll find the information you need. If you re still preparing to take the Border Patrol Entrance Examination and want to learn more about the Department of Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Protection, then this part is essential reading. If you re still pondering on whether a career as a Border Patrol Agent is for you, then this is section is important. In short, the Supplemental Section is for anyone wishing to learn about the Border Patrol. You can even share it to your loved ones so they will also gain a deeper understanding of your career choice and the federal agency you will be working in. ITP s Comprehensive Study Guide to Becoming a Border Patrol Agent gives you that essential fighting chance to get your foot in the front door on your journey towards becoming a Border Patrol Agent. This Supplemental Section, meanwhile, prepares you for life as an agent. The more you know about the nature of the job and the agency you are going to work for, the better-equipped you will be. It has been said that knowledge is power and the Supplemental Section aims to provide you with as much knowledge as you can so you are empowered to take on your new role as a Border Patrol Agent. Are you ready to enrich your knowledge about US Customs and Border Patrol? Start digging in!

2 II. History of the Border Patrol The Border Patrol goes back to more than a hundred years ago when Mounted Guards started patrolling the borders to ward off illegal crossings. These watchmen were from the US Immigration Service and confined their operations in Texas and California. These handful of valiant men no more than seventy-five at that time did their work to stem the flow of Chinese who wanted to illegally migrate to the US. Then, Mounted Inspectors were formed by Congress in Also known as Immigrant Inspectors, they had broader arrest powers than their predecessors. Aside from riding on horseback, they also used cars and boats to perform their duties. Just like their forerunners, their main goal was to pursue Chinese immigrants. However, they could not really patrol the border at all times since they were assigned to work in inspection stations. The job of watching over the borders fell on the shoulders of military troops assigned along the southwest but since this job was only secondary to training the military, their patrols were conducted sporadically. Texas Rangers helped in patrolling the borders and although what they did was quite effective, they were not able to do it regularly which still allowed illegal immigrants to enter the country. The problem of illegal entrants became even more pronounced in the early part of the twentieth century as increased head tax and the imposed literacy requirement prompted those who wanted to enter the US through illegal means. Although there were inspection stations where Immigrant Inspectors could check goods and people thoroughly before they were allowed to enter the country, the inspectors noticed that they were not effective in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants. What was lacking was border enforcement between these stations. This state of events prompted Supervising Inspector Frank W. Berkshire to write a letter to the Commissioner-General of Immigration in 1918 stating the need for a coordinated effort to implement immigration laws especially along the Mexican border. He asked the authorities to form an independent organization composed of seasoned and well-equipped and well-trained men to guard the border. It was only six years after, however, that this independent organization was formed. It wasn t really Berkshire s letter that prompted the formation of the group. Rather, it was the Eighteenth

3 Amendment to the US Constitution which prohibited the importation, transportation, manufacture or sale of alcoholic drinks as well as the Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924 that imposed limits on the number of immigrants to the US that did. These developments highlighted the importance of the job of the Border Patrol. The US Border Patrol was officially established on May 28, 1924 with the passing of the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924 by Congress. The main task of the Border Patrol then was to secure the borders between inspection stations. A year after, they were also mandated to conduct patrols along the seacoast. With the Congressional mandate, the Border Patrol started recruiting officers. Most of the recruits were local sheriffs and deputies, Texas Rangers, and appointees from the Civil Service Register of Railroad Mail Clerks. They were also equipped with their own badge and weapon a revolver but had to supply their own horse and saddle. The Federal government, however, took care of providing oats and hay for the horses. Washington also gave the Border Patrol officers an annual salary of $1,680. It was only in 1928 when Border Patrol Agents started wearing uniforms. There were two directors in charge of the Border Patrol in The first director had authority over the Mexican border office which saw to it that whiskey bootleggers were apprehended. These liquor smugglers used pack mules to get their forbidden drinks to the US through the Southern border by way of the Rio Grande. The other director worked in the Canadian border office where most of the Border Patrol Agents were assigned in. This was where aliens tried to enter the US illegally. A year later in 1933, the offices of the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization were combined into one office. It became the Immigration and Naturalization Service which was an agency operating under the Department of Labor. In December of 1934, the Border Patrol Academy first opened its doors in Camp Chigas in El Paso, Texas. It offered horsemanship and marksmanship training and thirty-four trainees first attended classes. Sometime after 1940, the Immigration and Naturalization Service was transferred to the Department of Justice. More personnel 712 agents and 57 auxiliary personnel were added to the Border Patrol team, bringing the total number of officers to 1,531. Their role expanded during the war. They guarded diplomats, manned alien detention camps, assisted the Coast Guard in looking for saboteurs and of course, provided control of the border. By the end of the Second World War, there were more than 1,400 people working in law enforcement and civilian positions under the Border Patrol office. They also started utilizing aircraft to perform their work.

4 After the war, specifically in 1952, the role of the Border Patrol started to expand. Legislation gave them permission to conduct vehicle searches to check for illegal immigrants. It also gave them arrest powers such that for the first time, illegal entrants who were traveling within the US became the subject of arrest. Repatriation efforts to send back illegal immigrants to their home countries also intensified. Fifty-two thousand illegal aliens were sent to the Mexican interior in However, when the program ran out of funds in the first year, it had to be stopped. Even the Mexican government helped by offering train rides to the interior for illegal nationals who were caught in San Antonio and Los Angeles but this only happened for five months. In the 1950s a Border Patrol special taskforce composed of 800 Border Patrol Agents were tasked by the US Attorney General to gather and send to their homes illegal immigrants living in southern California, Rio Grande valley, Chicago, as well as other interior cities. Adult Mexican males were sent home by boat in 1954 but after a couple of years and 50,000 aliens repatriated, the project was stopped. Unfortunately, the cost of repatriation was just too expensive to be continued. Besides, many of the deportees recrossed because the agency was seriously undermanned. In the late 1950s, the Border Patrol s problems also intensified as more and more illegal aliens began entering the US through private airplanes. Thus, they started tracking flights suspected of carrying these illegals. The Cuban missile crisis also compounded their problem as Cuban defectors in Florida also tried to harass their former homeland by flying aircraft out over the ocean. This was later made illegal by the US government and again the Border Patrol was tasked to look into these unauthorized flights. One hundred fifty-five officers were added for this purpose but after the crisis was over, 122 of them were discharged. The spate of hijacking attempts in the 1960s also prompted President John F. Kennedy to order Border Patrol agents to board domestic flights so that these attempts by terrorists could be prevented. The Miami Sector of the Border Patrol coordinated the activity. By this time, the Border Patrol also joined in efforts by other Federal government agencies to intercept the smuggling of illegal drugs from Mexico. Today, the Border Patrol continues to respond with the times. It updated its equipment and increased manpower to ensure that it is able to do its task. Border Patrol Agents are now equipped with night vision scopes, modern computers, and seismic sensors, among others, which makes them able to apprehend and process illegal aliens much more effectively.

5 Various programs were also implemented to make the agency more responsive to the threat of illegal migrants. In 1993, Operation Hold the Line was started and potential illegal aliens were deterred from crossing as the Border Patrol showed strength in numbers and advantage in technological equipment. In San Diego, California, Operation Gatekeeper was implemented in 1994 and had the effect of reducing illegal entries by over seventy-five percent in the next few years. Operation Gatekeeper was so successful that a defined national strategic plan became born out of it. The September 11, 2001 attacks spurred another major change in the history of the Border Patrol. Again, border security became a major issue in Washington as focus now centered on protecting the nation s borders from the threat of terrorists. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created on March 1, 2003 and the Border Patrol got joined to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). At present, the CBP is an agency under the DHS. The Border Patrol will certainly work towards its original end of keeping our borders safe. They have more tools and modern technology now to make them more efficient and effective. Agents are now taught specialized technologies and techniques to enable them to fulfill the mission of the Border Patrol. They are also taught to work with neighboring countries to enhance border safety efforts. III. Sectors and Stations of the Border Patrol Border Patrol Agents can be assigned in any of the sectors of the Border Patrol. Within these sectors are stations where you will be on duty. This section will introduce you to these. We have also included contact information like phone numbers and mailing addresses of the headquarters for each sector so that if you need more information about them, you can get in touch with the sectors directly. State Border Patrol Sectors Stations in the Sector Arizona Tucson Sector: The busiest sector in the southwest border, this sector is in charge of patrolling 262 miles of linear Ajo Station Casa Grande Station Douglas Station Naco Station border from the Yuma county Nogales Station line to the Arizona/New Mexico Sonoita Station state line. Tucson Station

6 California Florida Phone number: (520) Mailing address: 2430 S. Swan Road, Tucson, AZ Yuma Sector: This sector is in charge of patrolling the Yuma- Pima County line in Arizona and the Imperial Sand Dunes in California all 126 miles of border the US shares with Mexico. Phone number: (928) Mailing address: 4035 S. Ave. A, Yuma AZ El Centro Sector: This sector is responsible for 71 linear miles of the International Boundary with Mexico starting from the Jacumba Mountains in the west to the Imperial Sand Dunes in the east. Phone number: (760) Mailing address: 211 West Aten Road, Imperial, California San Diego Sector: The operational domain of this sector was increased from 91 coastal border miles to 114 miles as it was also assigned to combat maritime smuggling of both humans and drugs. Its Chief Patrol Agent controls all Air and Marine assets of the CBP Office. Phone number: (619) Mailing address: 2411 Boswell Rd., Chula Vista, CA Miami Sector: Established in 1940, this sector is responsible for patrolling 187,000 square miles. It has 1,203 miles of coastal border (Florida only) along the Atlantic and Gulf shores of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina Willcox Station Blythe Station Wellton Station Yuma Station Calexico Station El Centro Station Indio Station Riverside Station Boulevard Station Brown Field Station Campo Station Chula Vista Station El Cajon Station Imperial Beach Station Murrieta Station San Clemente Station Jacksonville Station Marathon Station Orlando Station Dania Beach Station Tampa Station West Palm Beach Station

7 Louisiana Maine Michigan Montana (1,776 miles of Coastal Border in the official area of responsibility (AOR). Phone number: (954) Mailing address: Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, FL New Orleans Sector: This sector s jurisdiction encompasses 592 counties and parishes and approximately 362,310 square miles in 7 states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and a portion of the Florida panhandle. Phone number: (504) Mailing address: P.O. Box 6218, New Orleans, LA Houlton Sector: The operational area of responsibility for this sector is the whole of the state of Maine. Phone numbers: (207) , Mailing Address: 96 Calais Rd, Hodgdon ME Detroit Sector: This sector is responsible for 863 miles of international water boundary with Canada covering over 3,802 miles of lakeshores and riverbanks. It has jurisdiction over the states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. Michigan. Phone number: (586) Mailing address: South Street, Building 1516, Selfridge ANGB, MI Havre Station: This sector has jurisdiction over 456 miles of international border, starting Baton Rouge Station Gulfport Station Lake Charles Station Little Rock Station Mobile Station New Orleans Station Calais Station Fort Fairfield Station Houlton Station Jackman Station Rangeley Station Van Buren Station Detroit Station Gibraltar Station Marysville Station Sault Sainte Marie Station Sandusky Bay Station Billings Sub-Station Havre Station Malta Station

8 New York along the Montana-North Dakota border to the east and ending at the Continental Divide to the west. Phone number: (406) Mailing address: th Ave. SE, Havre, MT Buffalo Sector: This sector is responsible for 29 counties, which include all of the Western parts of New York State, portions of Central and Northern New York State, and parts of Pennsylvania. The international boundary in the Buffalo Sector is composed entirely of water and consists of Lakes Erie and Ontario, the Niagara River, and the western portion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. It also monitors more than 400 air miles of border that includes 36 miles of the Niagara River and 33 miles of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Plentywood Station Scobey Station Shelby Station St. Mary Station Sweetgrass Station Twin Falls Sub-Station Buffalo Station Erie Station Niagara Falls Station Oswego Station Rochester Station Wellesley Island Station North Dakota Puerto Rico Phone number: (716) Mailing address: Buffalo Sector Headquarters, 201 Lang Blvd., Grand Island, NY Grand Forks Sector: This sector encompasses North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Phone number: (701) Mailing address: th Street NE, Grand Forks, ND Ramey Sector: This is the newest of the twenty-one Sectors spread out across the United States. Its jurisdiction is the U.S. territorial islands of Bottineau Station Duluth Station Grand Forks Station Grand Marais Station International Falls Station Pembina Station Portal Station Warroad Station Ramey Station

9 Texas Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and is the only Border Patrol Sector located outside the continental United States. Phone number: (787) Mailing address: P.O. Box Aguadilla, PR Big Bend Sector: This sector is composed of 77 Texas counties and all of the State of Oklahoma (78 counties). Its operational area is 165,154 square miles. It patrols 510 miles of river front along the Rio Grande River which is the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. Phone number: (432) , or Mailing address: Big Bend Border Patrol Sector, P.O. Box I, Marfa, TX Del Rio Sector: This sector is responsible for the 210 miles of the Rio Grande River that forms the border between the U.S. and Mexico. This jurisdiction covers 59,541 square miles of Texas, and reaches 300 miles into Texas from the U.S.-Mexico border. Phone number: (830) Mailing address: Del Rio Border Patrol Sector, 2401 Dodson Avenue, Del Rio, TX El Paso Sector: This sector is one of the nine sectors patrolling the Southwest Border of the United States with Mexico. It covers the geographical region of the entire state of New Mexico as well as two counties within far west Texas. Alpine Station Amarillo Sub-Station Big Bend Sub-Station Fort Stockton Station Lubbock Station Marfa Station Midland Station Pecos Station Presidio Station Sanderson Station Sierra Blanca Station Van Horn Station Abilene Station Brackettville Station Carrizo Springs Station Comstock Station Del Rio Station Eagle Pass Station Rocksprings Station San Angelo Station Uvalde Station Alamogordo Station Albuquerque Station Clint Station Deming Station El Paso Station Fort Hancock Station Las Cruces Station Lordsburg Station Santa Teresa Station Truth or Consequences

10 Vermont Washington Laredo Sector: This sector patrols 110,000 square miles in 116 counties, encompassing the Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas borders. Phone number: (956) Mailing address: 207 W. Del Mar Blvd., Laredo, TX Rio Grande Valley Sector: This sector is responsible for more than 320 river miles, 250 coastal miles and 19 counties in Southeast Texas. Phone number: (956) Mailing address: 4400 South Expressway 281, Edinburg, Texas Swanton Sector: This sector is responsible for patrolling 24,000 square miles and includes all of the state of Vermont; Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Hamilton, and Herkimer Counties of New York; and Coos, Grafton, and Carroll Counties of New Hampshire. Phone number: Mailing address: 155 Grand Ave, Swanton, VT Blaine Sector: This sector patrols the land borders from Blaine, Washington to the Northern Cascades. Phone number: (360) and (360) Mailing address: 2410 Nature's Path Way, Blaine, WA Spokane Sector: This sector patrols the area of Washington that lies east of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascade Mountain Station Ysleta Station Cotulla Station Dallas Station Freer Station Hebbronville Station Laredo North Station Laredo South Station Laredo West Station San Antonio Station Zapata Station Brownsville Station Corpus Christi Station Falfurrias Station Fort Brown Station Harlingen Station Kingsville Station McAllen Station Rio Grande City Station Weslaco Station Beecher Falls Station Burke Station Champlain Station Massena Station Newport Station Ogdensburg Station Richford Station Swanton Station Bellingham Station Blaine Station Port Angeles Station Sumas Station Bonners Ferry Station Colville Station Curlew Station Eureka Station

11 Range, the area of Idaho that is north of the Salmon River, and the portion of Montana, which is west of the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain Range. It is responsible for 308 miles of International Boundary and nearly 135,000 square miles. Metaline Falls Station Oroville Station Whitefish Station Phone number: (509) Mailing address: N. Newport Hwy., Spokane, WA IV. Border Patrol Special Operations If you think that the only thing Border Patrol Agents do is line-watch duties, think again. While Border Patrol Agents regularly patrol borders, inspect vehicles and conduct traffic checkpoints, they are not confined to these tasks alone well those who choose to and can pass the rigid training, at least. If you have worked as an agent for some time then perhaps you can apply to be part of Border Patrol Special Operations. Before discussing the components of the Border Patrol Special Operations Group (BPSOG), let s look at the rationale behind the creation of the BPSOG. To support the objective of the Border Patrol of protecting America s citizens, strengthening control of US borders and preventing terrorism, it is not uncommon for Border Patrol Agents to dangerous and uncommon situations that they were not trained for. Recognizing this possibility prompted the CBP to create the BPSOG. In short, the Border Patrol Special Operations Group is composed of special teams that get additional intense training so that they can respond rapidly to situations that are usually not encountered by ordinary Border Patrol Agents. These teams are trained in special tactics and techniques, search and rescue, and medical response capabilities. Specifically, they are designed and specially-equipped to quickly respond to unique yet usually dangerous situations where the lives of people depend on them. BORTAC and BORSTAR

12 The two units under the BPSOG are the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) and the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) Team comprise the Border Patrol Special Operations Group. They were combined under the Border Patrol Special Operations Division in 2007 although each group has its own area of expertise. The CBP plans, trains, and deploys agents from these groups to domestic and international destinations to enable them to derive intelligence in support of its anti-terrorism efforts. But this is not the only thing they do. When disasters strike, they are also sent to give humanitarian aid and assistance. The Special Operations Group also trains border police of other countries to enable them to prepare for combat. In December 2012, for example, eight Special Operations Group instructors went to Belize the train their law enforcement personnel in different fields. They were made to undergo intense physical fitness, patrol drills, weapons training, tactical and operational modules and field medical training to enhance their knowledge. Getting into any unit of the Special Operations Group, however, is only reserved for experienced agents. You need to serve at least two years as a regular agent before you can take your career to the next level as part of The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). Before you can make it to the BORTAC Training Course, however, you will first undergo initial testing. Your physical strength and endurance will be tested through such exercises as push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. You must also pass a pistol qualification test. If you pass those two tests, you must complete a timed sixmile ruck march carrying a weighted pack. You will also be assessed in swimming, treading water, and drown-proofing. Once you make it through the initial testing phase, then you will have to pass the BORTAC Training Course. For a few weeks, you will be given intense training in small unit tactics, operation planning, advanced weapon skills, defensive tactics, and airmobile operations. Before you can finally become an official BORTAC member, you will undergo a test which tests your ability to function within a team environment despite intense stress and sleep deprivation. You will only be able to work on your Sector Special Response Team after you ve passed this grueling process. You don t stop learning while on the job, too. In fact, you will be trained in more advanced tactical and weapons techniques. The other component of the Special Operations Group is the BORSTAR which stands for Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue. BORSTAR is tasked with and capable of responding to

13 emergency search and rescue situations anywhere in the country. They are a highly-specialized unit composed of Border Patrol Agent volunteers who go beyond their call of duty to give assistance to those in need. Most of the time, they give aid to migrants who end up getting injured trying to cross borders through illegal means. Often, the places they pick to cross in are dangerous not only because of the terrain but also because of the presence of wild animals. Other illegal entrants, meanwhile, also need rescuing after running out of food and water and then suffer from dehydration and/or hunger along the way. BORSTAR agents do not only also respond to illegal migrants in distress. They also assist fellow Border Patrol Agents, residents, and visitors who find themselves in need of help when traveling or touring in the border regions. Most of the time, they are the only rescue unit available in these border areas. They are capable of doing dangerous and admirable feats of heroism because of their training. They respond in different kinds of environments and harsh climates. They do rescues in both high and low ground, on land and in bodies of water. They do rescues in extreme weather conditions, whether it is freezing cold or blisteringly hot. Depending on the gravity of the situation, they can perform quick rescues that take only a few minutes or a few hours or the entire operation can stretch to days or even weeks. Even if you volunteer to become a member of BORSTAR, you still need to undergo intense training. It s definitely not easy. Just like BORTAC, you need to have been a full-fledged Border Patrol Agent for two years before you can apply. You must also go through an intense application and selection process before you are picked to attend the BORSTAR Academy. The BORSTAR Academy is a five week course that will test your physical and mental limits. It is both rigorous and demanding. You will be taught search and rescue techniques as well as related skills. You will also receive training on technical rescue, swiftwater rescue, land navigation, communication, tactical medicine, and air operations. Most of all, you will be taught to work within a team and value teamwork a vital trait shared by all BORSTAR members. Your training, however, does not stop at the BORSTAR Academy. All BORSTAR agents who have passed basic training will have to go through an Emergency Medical Technician course. This is a mandatory requirement which will prepare you to become certified as a Basic Emergency Medical Technician. If you want to get more specialized training afterwards, you can also choose to do so. Depending on your interest and level of expertise in a particular skill, you can then train to become a rescue watercraft/boat operator, paramedic or police safety diver. You can also get additional training to become an expert at coldweather operations.

14 As a BORSTAR agent, you can be assigned in any of the local BORSTAR teams at each Southwest Border Sector. The headquarters of the Special Operations Group is in El Paso, Texas. Air Mobile Unit and Mobile Response Team The Air Mobile Unit and the Mobile Response Team are two other specially-trained units of the CBP. They are called upon to respond to situations which can only be addressed using their specialized set of skills and equipment. The Air Mobile Unit is in charge of rescue or apprehension missions when individuals have to be airlifted from remote areas using a plane or helicopter. They assist the Special Operations Group and other the CBP in general because they hold the advantage of being able to see things from the sky. They drop off agents in rugged mountain terrains inaccessible by land or would take many days to traverse and airlift illegal entrants who try to take cover in this rugged terrain to enter the United States. Most of the members of the Air Mobile Unit are ex-military men who are already seasoned in this kind of situations. However, they still need to undergo training in first aid and CPR, standard physical course, standard helicopter piloting and drop-out, standard plane piloting, tactical procedures, air navigation, swiftwater rescue and technical rescue before they become part of this elite unit. The Mobile Response Team (MRT) is another specialized group of the CBP. Comprised of seasoned Border Patrol Agents, they are trained and equipped to respond to border threats that can change rapidly. They are able to respond to the dynamic changes of regional and national problems that threaten the safety of our borders. They are particularly trained to detect any shifts in local and cross-border criminal activity, whether this involves smuggling people, drugs and liquor. They are specifically trained to be flexible and be able to respond to the ever-evolving threats that occur along the borders. V. The CBP Canine Unit

15 We always view dogs are considered man s best friends. But in the CBP, they are also treated dogs as well-respected colleagues. They help Border Patrol Agents do their jobs effectively. This is why the CBP has canine teams. Canine teams composed of a dog and their agent handler assigned to work along borders and ports of entry. Their mission is to detect and deter illegal or illicit activity while making sure that legitimate trade and travel go on smoothly. Canine instructors provide the necessary instruction and training to handlers and their dogs so that they can fulfill their mission of protecting the country. Detecting concealed humans, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs are the responsibility of the Passenger Processing Canine Narcotic Detection of the CBP. Detection canines are trained to sit when they smell a narcotic or a human. They work in ports-of-entry, screening arriving passengers/pedestrians and their hand-carried items. Meanwhile, Search and Rescue Canine units are trained to track/trail and search large land areas. The land navigation skills of these teams are enhanced through training and education. Handlers are taught how to use topographic maps, compasses, and GPS. Both dogs and humans in these units are given training in rappelling for helicopter operations and backtracking. They are also given training on various types of environments so they can be deployed in snow, pine forest, and mountain ranges, among others. Dogs in the Basic Canine Currency/Firearms Detection are taught to smell the presence of large quantities of U.S. currency and firearms hidden in luggage and compartments. They follow the proper sequences when conducting vehicle, aircraft, freight, luggage, mail, passengers, and premises searches. The canine teams for these teams above get their customized training program in the canine centers found either in El Paso, Texas or in Front Royal, Virginia. Meanwhile, dogs that work to detect the presence of pests and other agro-terrorism threats and then later assigned with agriculture specialists receive their training in the USDA s National Detector Dog Training Center in Atlanta, Georgia. History of CBP Canine Centers

16 The formation of the Department of Homeland Security March 1, 2003 united the canine resources of four agencies under its banner. Canine teams from the U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture now fell under the jurisdiction of the DHS which resulted to a more comprehensive canine program comprised of more than 1,500 canine teams. The two canine centers operated by U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Border Patrol in Front Royal and El Paso, respectively, were also united and renamed as Canine Center- Front Royal and Canine Center- El Paso. Originally, the Canine Center in Front Royal was called the Canine Enforcement Training Center. The U.S. Customs Service created it in 1970 to detect narcotics smuggled through our borders. Training was conducted by skilled dog trainers who came from various branches of the military service in April of that year. Since marijuana and hashish were the hot drugs at that time, the dogs were specifically trained to detect these substances. When heroin and cocaine became the drug of choice, these detection canines were also trained to detect such. By September of 1970, these dogs were successfully able to detect all four substances. Four canine teams underwent intensive training in 1986 to detect concealed humans, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. They were deployed in 1987 and were able to seize more than $150 million in narcotics as well as concealed individuals on their first five months of operation, making the initiative a success. The positive impact they made encouraged the U.S. Border Patrol to add 75 more certified canine teams to enhance their drug and human smuggling detection activities. The role of the Canine Center in El Paso is to see to it that training and certification standards for the canine teams of the US Border Patrol were consistent. Biggs Army Air Field was an ideal location as it provided them with ample space and ideal climate conducive to outdoor training every day of the year. VI. The CBP s Fight against Human Trafficking The unique position of the more than 42,000 CBP officers and Border Patrol Agents put them at the forefront in the battle against human trafficking. Actually, deterring and disrupting human trafficking is undertaken by various agencies of the Federal government which include the Department of Homeland Security, State Department, Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies work together to combat this complex crime. The CBP being a component agency of the DHS coordinates with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and

17 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to carry out their work successfully. Since CBP officers and Border Patrol Agents are the ones who guard the country s entry and exit points and conduct inspections, they are often the first ones to detect the presence of a problem. They also coordinate with state and local law enforcement organizations and nonprofit organizations to enforce the provisions of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act which was made law in Human trafficking is any labor situation where force, fraud or coercion is used to get people to agree to work, usually in inhumane conditions. People are trafficked around the globe mainly for the commercial sex trade. However, traffickers also conduct their activities for other purposes like domestic servitude, labor in a prison-like factory, and migrant agricultural work. It is not easy to identify victims of human trafficking. All CBP officers are trained to look for indicators to pinpoint victims. Some of the signs that this crime is occurring include the following: 1) Victims lack of identification documents or travel documents; 2) Victims live and work in the same location; 3) They are not free to move about; 4) They are restricted from socializing, attending religious services or contacting family; 5) They show signs of being deprived of basic necessities like food, water, sleep or medical care; 6) They exhibit signs of physical assault or other forms of abuse (Signs of abuse include broken bones, brands or tattoos or for women, dating older and abusive men); 7) Victims show submissiveness or fear around others; 8) Have no control over their schedule; 9) Have no concrete plans whether for the short-term or long-term; and 10) Have insufficient knowledge about the place he or she is in. VII. The Department of Homeland Security Since this is the parent agency of the CBP, you should get to know the Department of Homeland Security a little more intimately. In this section, we will tell you more about it, the benefits of working in this department, and a little overview of the hiring process for its positions. This way, even if you don t become a Border Patrol Agent, you can still look for opportunities within the DHS. What is the Department of Homeland Security? The Department of Homeland Security was formed in 2003 in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. The primary responsibilities of the DHS is to protect the territory within the United States, respond and prevent terrorist attacks, man-made accidents and natural disasters.

18 With its formation, the DHS also acquired the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The DHS then divided up the services and made two new agencies The Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Service. The investigative side of these two divisions were formed into a new department named the Homeland Security Investigations. Anything that had to do with the protecting and managing the borders from these divisions were formed into The U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The DHS is the third largest cabinet in the federal government with over 200,000 employees. Benefits of Working for the DHS Just like working for other parts of the Federal Government, the DHS has many appealing benefits as well. Their pay and benefits are competitive with other divisions of the federal government. Special employee programs Government pension Ten paid holidays per year days of paid vacation 13 days of paid sick leave Healthcare that includes medical and dental Group life insurance Death and disability insurance Regular cost of living adjustments The DHS also offers students and recent graduates performance-based pay increases, flexible hours, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment. Different Sections of the DHS Law Enforcement Border Patrol

19 Inspections screens all travelers arriving in the U.S. by air, land or sea. Investigations enforcement of immigration laws, document Fraud, terrorism and violent and organized crimes. Intelligence collects and evaluates all evidence relating to any DHS investigations. Detention and Deportation agents take illegal immigrants into custody and operates Service Processing Centers where they remain in custody until a hearing determines their status These departments work collectively to keep illegal immigrants from entering the country or working in the country illegally. Jobs Within the DHS In addition to Border Patrol Agent, there are many other jobs that have different qualifications that may better match an applicant s qualifications. Criminal Investigator Deportation Officer Immigrations Inspector Detention Enforcement Officer Non-Law Enforcement Jobs Adjudications Officer Asylum Officer Immigration Information Officer Where to Find Jobs Within the DHS There are a few different places you can look for the latest opportunities within the DHS. Go to the OPM (Office of Personnel Management s website) USAJOBS.gov. These jobs are updated on a daily basis and a job seeker can access this list 24/7. Jobs can be searched by job type, department, state, salary and grade level.

20 Contact the DHS directly to get access to new job opportunities through their sit Please note that many positions that become available may be first grabbed up by an Eligibility list that the DHS keeps that lists a number of eligible candidates. However this list stays fresh for only a year, but still future applicants should pay attention to hiring windows as they may not come around too often. How to Apply Lucky for you the application process for a DHS position is quite simple. It s all done online. First off, you must realize that all opportunities that are available have a filing period. This means that after the filing period has ended, no more applications will be accepted. Don t be left out. Get your application in early. Second, fill out the online application at either or There are two online applications SF-171 (The Standard Form) or OF 612 (Optional Application Form for Federal Employment). If you choose to just submit your resume instead of filling out the applications, you must make sure that all information asked of you on the application is on your resume. If you are currently employed with the Federal Government please note that on your resume and include your social security number as well. Once you have applied for the position you may be required to take a written exam. You will receive this information in the mail. Pay attention to testing center locations and times because arriving late on your exam date will dismiss you immediately. Once your application has been considered you might be required to either take a written exam, a physical exam, or be called in for an interview. The written exam may be retaken if you fail the first time after a period of six months. In addition, as a potential employee of the federal government all applicants will have to pass a background investigation, drug test, and psychological evaluation and personality test. VIII.Conclusion

21 We hope you enjoyed reading and learning from our Supplemental Section as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you. If you re still considering being a Border Patrol Agent, we hope reading this has helped you come closer to a decision on what your career path is going to be. If you re already on your way to the Border Patrol Academy or have finished it and are on your way to your duty post, we hope you look forward to the sometimes exciting yet always fulfilling job as a guardian of our nation s borders. We at Internet Training Products wish you all the best!