CBS Atlanta follows border patrol agents as they round up illegal immigrants

Posted: Feb 28, 2012 5:35 PM PST Updated: Feb 29, 2012 8:46 PM PST
Jennifer Mayerle -

ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) - CBS Atlanta News followed along with border patrol agents in southeastern Texas to show you what is working to secure the border.

The job of a border patrol agent is demanding, both physically and mentally.

Reporter Jennifer Mayerle and photographer Jon Goss followed agents patrolling the Texas-Mexico border to see first hand what they're doing to secure our border.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents work day and night to secure the U.S. border. Most of what they catch coming over illegally happens before the sun rises.

"We're going to head over there and see what they have," said agent Rosie Huey.

Agents tracked a group for more than a mile before they caught up with them.

"They all scattered, started running and it was on," said one agent.

Agents caught five people out of 14. One of them was 20 years old. All of the men traveled for two days to make the attempt to cross illegally in a desperate attempt to find work.

One case ends and the chase is on again. Three people were spotted crossing the border through heavy brush. Agents run with their guns drawn as they approach the area where the illegal immigrants were seen.

"What are you looking for?" asked Mayerle.

"Any type of sign. We see somebody has walked through here. You can see the sign right there," said Huey.

They find two people.

"They've got them in custody," said Huey.

The agents keep searching for the third.

"As I'm walking, I'm scanning to make sure somebody isn't laid up in the brush and there's also an agent walking in the brush," said Huey.

Finally the last person is found hiding behind a mattress in a rundown area. He's from Honduras.

"What did you do to get here today?" asked Mayerle.

"I just drive in across Mexico, in a bus," said the man.

"How long have you been traveling?" asked Mayerle.

"Like a month," said the man.

He traveled for a month for one reason.

"I just love my family. I've got four children and a wife and I want to be with them. They need me," said the man.

Huey admits the job can be tough.

"We still have to do our job but we're going to do it respectfully. We're going to give them the respect they deserve and we're going to treat them as human beings because that is our job. They may have come into this country illegally but they do have rights," said Huey.

After a person is caught, they are taken in for processing. Some will be deported, others will be held for prosecution. That's how border patrol agents work to stop people from getting across the border illegally.

Not everyone crosses in the dark of night. Some try to cross in cars.

"We're the guardians of the ports of entry," said Assistant Port Director David Moreno.

Every car is stopped. Some are let through quickly. Other cars will be searched.

Border patrol officers arrest people daily at the port of entry. Moreno said some are illegal immigrants trying to sneak through, others are U.S. citizens. Mayerle and Goss witnessed a man being taken away in handcuffs. He was wanted on a probation violation.

"Do you feel by doing all these checks you're preventing other crimes from happening in the U.S.?" asked Mayerle.

"I believe we are, definitely. Our main mission is to keep terrorist and terrorist weapons out of the U.S.," said Moreno.

CBS Atlanta follows border patrol agents - CBS Atlanta 46