I Was a Border Patrol Agent for 18 Years — Here's What They Never Show You | Frank Vallejo

Frank Vallejo grew up in Texas dreaming of serving his country. After six years as a police officer across two cities he was recruited to join the Border Patrol — and spent the next 18 years on the front lines of one of America's most complex and controversial assignments. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Frank pulls back the curtain on what border patrol work really looks like — from the human smuggling operations he dismantled to the major drug busts that defined his career. He breaks down exactly how smugglers operated and how agents spotted them, shares the heartbreaking stories from the job that never leave you, explains why the border wall actually increased security, and reveals how the catch and release policies of the early 2000s allowed millions of people into the country unchecked. This is the conversation about the border that nobody in the media is having. _____________________________________________ #BorderPatrol #TrueCrime #bordersecurity _____________________________________________ Thank you to RAYCON for sponsoring this episode: Upgrade your dad’s everyday routine. Go to https://buyraycon.com/IANBICKOPEN to get 15% off. _____________________________________________ Connect with Frank Vallejo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franciscovallejo544?igsh=MWU0ZzFzbzR3MTVzMA== Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Lines-Patrol-Betrayal-Enforcement-ebook/dp/B0GRPXBYP1 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction - Border Patrol Agent Interview 03:54 Frank's Early Life and Background 07:31 How to Become a Police Officer: First Jobs & Academy 14:49 Why Police Officers Switch Departments 21:27 Border Patrol Training: Academy & What to Expect 28:17 What Does Border Patrol Actually Do? Duties Explained 36:08 Day in the Life of a Border Patrol Agent 44:00 How Drug Smuggling Works at the Border 51:46 Border Patrol Chase & Pursuit Stories 58:28 Border Patrol Catch Rates & Community Impact 01:07:28 Drug Smuggling, Tip-Offs & Police Corruption 01:13:13 Border Patrol Policy Changes & Supervisor Roles 01:20:17 Does the Border Wall Work? Wall vs Technology 01:27:27 Emotional Toll & Public Misconceptions About Border Patrol 01:33:35 Career Reflections & Writing a Book 01:36:19 Closing & Where to Buy the Book _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices