The U.S. Border Patrol has seen a dramatic decrease in activity in some sectors as technological advances have made it difficult for illegal aliens to cross the border

January 20, 2000
Web posted at: 7:52 p.m. EST (0052 GMT)

In this story: As action slows, agents seek other jobs Patrol still tries to meet mandate for more agents Operation Gatekeeper stifles illegal entries Low pay doesn't help recruitment effort RELATED STORIES, SITES

By Correspondent Jim Hill

SAN DIEGO (CNN) -- For 75 years, U.S. Border Patrol agents had fought an uphill battle at spots like Smugglers Canyon, Russian Alley and Spooner's Mesa -- trying to stop a seemingly endless tide of illegal immigrants from Mexico.

VIDEO CNN's Jim Hill looks at the factors behind the 'border boredom' that has resulted in many agents leaving the U.S. Border Patrol. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

But now, here in California's San Diego sector, they find relatively few immigrants coming across the border -- and some agents may be suffering from border boredom.

"Things have changed dramatically. The scenes of yesterday, the chaos of a border out of control have vanished," said patrol Capt. Roy Villareal.

In recent years up to 13 percent of the 8,000 Border Patrol agents nationwide have left for new jobs in law enforcement.

The Border Patrol holds recruiting fairs to meet a congressional mandate for more agents

Some have been assigned to Douglas, Arizona, where illegal entry is still soaring. Others perform community services such as tutoring.

The Border Patrol still holds recruiting fairs to meet a congressional mandate for more agents.

"We're trying to hire 2,000 agents this year," said patrol recruiter Scott Ross.

However, can the patrol lure recruits who are clearly looking for action?

"We can go out in the desert, hike around the desert looking for tracks or something," said Adam Rostro, a U.S. Marine who attended a recruiting fair.

In past decades, up to 4,000 illegal immigrants were arrested each day in the San Diego sector.

However, in 1994, Operation Gatekeeper put in an 8-foot wall and added resources such as ground sensors, infrared telescopes and remote-operated video cameras.

Many potential border jumpers gave up trying to scale the wall and avoid the high-tech traps.

Arrests dropped to as few as 20 per day, leaving many agents with a lonely vigil over barren hills.

Another reason agents are leaving, say union officials, is low pay.

"It costs $270,000 to buy a house in San Diego. Very few agents can make that obligation," said Joseph Dassaro of the National Border Patrol Council.

That makes it harder for the Border Patrol in the San Diego sector to beef up while the action slows down.

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