Hiring fairs to take place in El Paso, Albuquerque
By Stephanie Sanchez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


EL PASO -- In 1915, the U.S. Border Patrol began in El Paso with fewer than 75 men on horseback and with a mission to apprehend Chinese immigrants who tried to avoid Chinese exclusion laws. Since then, it has evolved into a sophisticated agency with more than 17,600 agents, aircraft, special units and high-tech equipment.

Its primary goals now are to prevent terrorists from crossing into the U.S., to limit illegal immigration and to catch smugglers.

Agents can track people in the desert on all-terrain vehicles, in helicopters, on horseback and in sport utility vehicles. The agency uses the most advanced technology, such as sensor lights and night-vision cameras.

Now the agency is trying to hire about 6,000 people by the end of the year.

To meet its goal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will have a national recruiting day Saturday in Albuquerque and El Paso. The El Paso event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn El Paso Airport, at 6655 Gateway West.

The move to hire the additional agents nationwide comes from a mandate from President Bush stated in 2006 to increase personnel along the border. It is the largest expansion in the Border Patrol's history, said Border Patrol Agent Jose Romero.

Currently, he said, there are more than 17,600 agents nationwide, including slightly more than 2,500 in the El Paso Sector.

Romero said agents perform various tasks and usually specialize in one or several duties.

The specialties include a Search and Rescue Team and a Special Response Team -- the Border Patrol's SWAT -- Romero said.

The Special Response Team is sent out when large military-type groups of smugglers try to cross the border, he said.

"Unfortunately, a lot of times when we're dealing with some smugglers, these are well-armed cartels. Then you have an agent by himself with his gun -- you're going to be out-gunned and outnumbered," he said. "So whenever we feel there is going to be an incursion by a military-type group bringing in narcotics or something, we're going to get SRT (Special Response Team) out there because they are trained to handle that."

The Search and Rescue Team not only looks for people trying to enter the U.S. illegally but also assists with rescues, Romero said.

Other agents patrol the brush, ravines and sandy areas along the border on horses, in sport utility vehicles and in all-terrain vehicles.

Thursday afternoon, Border Patrol Agent Luis Perez and his partner Victor Hernandez were patrolling in Sunland Park near the Anapra area of Mexico on all-terrain vehicles.

Perez, 28, who has been an agent for 2Ã¥ years, said he joined it because he knew every day would be different.

One method Perez and other agents use to determine whether someone has crossed illegally is to assess foot impressions on the ground along the fence. By looking at the impressions, he explained, agents can determine whether those who crossed were children or adults; whether they were running or slouched over while walking; and whether they were coming into the United States or trying to run back to Mexico.

"It's really exciting," Perez said as he stood upright on his ATV.

Even though the job may seem exciting, Romero said, danger comes with it.

"You don't know -- like any law enforcement -- a routine stop can turn into a smuggling activity," he said. "They don't want to be caught. They've got something to hide. So sometimes, as an agent, you have to be cognizant of the fact that in that group there's a very good possibility one of those guys is a criminal or a couple of those guys are criminals."

He said that in 2007 about 13 percent of people apprehended at the border had a criminal record.


Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.

Make plans

The Border Patrol recruitment event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn, 6655 Gateway West.

Recruiters at the event will answer questions about the job, help fill out applications, provide test-taking tips, give practice tests and talk about their experiences as Border Patrol agents.

Information: 877-277-9527 or visit www.borderpatrol.gov.



More information

Each person interested in becoming an agent has to complete a rigorous screening process, which includes a written exam, structured interview, Spanish proficiency test, physical fitness test and medical examination.

The person is then required to go through a 55-day training program, in which the person is taught law, driving various vehicles and use of firearms. Those who do not pass a Spanish proficiency test are then required to complete a 40-day Spanish immersion course. All training is done in Artesia, N.M.

Initial assignments will be in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.

Border Patrol agents earn between $36,000 and $46,000 their first year, and can potentially earn up to $70,000 a year after years of service.

Benefits include federal health insurance, life insurance, retirement and up to 25 percent additional pay in overtime opportunities.

The age requirement is younger than 40.

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