Border Patrol Stories
We Don't Hold Hands
On a slow night in south Texas, a Border Patrol agent assigned to operate a series of infrared cameras (IR) noticed a group of people who had just entered the United States illegally and were cross through a ranch.
The camera operator called the traffic over the radio to units in the area. Since it was a quiet night, several two-man units responded.
A weakness of IR technology is depth perception. It is difficult for the camera operator to provide accurate distances. Further, it is very common for the camera operator to loose sight of people as their positions become concealed by terrain and vegetation. No surprise, that occurred this night which caused the camera operator to ask the agents on the ground questions to confirm their identity, e.g., "A vehicle just pulled up to the Hernandez gate. Is that green traffic?" Agents on the ground would confirm, "Green Traffic. That's B-871." "Green traffic", of course being Border Patrol personnel.
The area through which the aliens were passing was full of small trees and numerous hills, causing the camera operator to loose contact regularly.
I was too far away to respond, but I listened to the radio traffic. I remember one exchange in particular.
Camera operator - "I just saw two people going into the arroyo. Is that green traffic?"
Agent #1 - "Green traffic in the arroyo."
Camera operator - "I have two people crossing a fence. Is that green traffic?"
Agent #2 - "Green traffic crossing the fence. B-871 and B-866."
Camera operator - "B-871, are you holding hands with B-866?"
B-871 - "Sir, we're Border Patrol Agents, we don't hold hands!"
Coincidentally, two Border Patrol Agent crossed a fence at the very same time that the camera operator watch two aliens cross a fence.
The group was apprehended and all of us got a good laugh!
The camera operator called the traffic over the radio to units in the area. Since it was a quiet night, several two-man units responded.
A weakness of IR technology is depth perception. It is difficult for the camera operator to provide accurate distances. Further, it is very common for the camera operator to loose sight of people as their positions become concealed by terrain and vegetation. No surprise, that occurred this night which caused the camera operator to ask the agents on the ground questions to confirm their identity, e.g., "A vehicle just pulled up to the Hernandez gate. Is that green traffic?" Agents on the ground would confirm, "Green Traffic. That's B-871." "Green traffic", of course being Border Patrol personnel.
The area through which the aliens were passing was full of small trees and numerous hills, causing the camera operator to loose contact regularly.
I was too far away to respond, but I listened to the radio traffic. I remember one exchange in particular.
Camera operator - "I just saw two people going into the arroyo. Is that green traffic?"
Agent #1 - "Green traffic in the arroyo."
Camera operator - "I have two people crossing a fence. Is that green traffic?"
Agent #2 - "Green traffic crossing the fence. B-871 and B-866."
Camera operator - "B-871, are you holding hands with B-866?"
B-871 - "Sir, we're Border Patrol Agents, we don't hold hands!"
Coincidentally, two Border Patrol Agent crossed a fence at the very same time that the camera operator watch two aliens cross a fence.
The group was apprehended and all of us got a good laugh!
We Don't Hold Hands
DISCLAIMER: The views and experiences shared in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HonorFirst.com, the U.S. Border Patrol, or any government agency. These stories are presented for historical and cultural insight and have been submitted by current or former Border Patrol employees with minimal editing for clarity.
