Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Two former Border Patrol agents were sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for operating a massive human smuggling ring, the Associated Press reports. Federal District Judge John A. Houston sentenced Raul Villarreal, the ring leader, to 35 years in prison Friday; his brother Fidel Villarreal was sentenced to 30 years…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Customs and Border workers won’t be forced to take furloughs this year as originally feared, Government Executive reports. CBP employees, who initially faced 14 furlough days in fiscal 2013, dodged the forced days off through appropriations approved by Congress. It was good news for the more than 20,000 CBP workers who feared…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Authorities are not sure how six U.S. border agents became ill after inspecting a vehicle at a crossing in northern New York, The Associated Press reports. The officer became ill Saturday morning while examining a 2002 BMW at the Champlain crossing. The officers, who were decontaminated on site, have been released from…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A federal group is selling collector’s coins of Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry, who was killed in a shootout while on duty, to raise money for a foundation created to honor Terry. Called the “Challenge Coin,” the Border Narcotics Intelligence is selling the coins online for $15. Terry’s death grabbed national…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A quick-acting Border Patrol agent saved a drowning child who fell into a neighbor’s swimming pool over the weekend in McAllen, Tex., The Monitor reports. Agent Carlos Cojelo was at his house when he heard commotion from a neighbor’s house. When he arrived, he saw a mother clutching her 3-year-old child, who…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Border Patrol apprehensions have increased 13% in the first six months of the fiscal year, the USA Today reports. The increase over last year, however, doesn’t mean the border is incredibly busy. In fact, the number of apprehensions – 189,172 – is still near historic lows. Does this mean the U.S. is on…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com A Border Patrol agent who died while vacationing in Hawaii will be buried today after a funeral service in his hometown of San Diego, KSWT reports. Kris Gungon, 31, accidentally drowned two weeks ago while swimming near a waterfall. Gungon is survived by his wife and 5-month-old daughter. They were not swimming…
Steve Neavling ticklethewire.com Border Patrol agents are in the dark about a lot of things these days. With the fiscal year halfway through, agents still don’t know whether they will have furlough days or overtime reductions, the Arizona Daily Star reports. A plan submitted by Customs and Border Protection to Congress seeks to eliminate the…
