Friday, August 5th 2005, a US Border Patrol agent (Oscar Antonio Ortiz) was arrested and charged with corruption and immigrant smuggling. Although I realize the incident has nothing to do with this site, it does however raise the question, does an applicant for the US Department Of Justice Border Patrol have to submit to a polygraph examination as part of their pre-employment phase? 

 I'm assuming the answer is of course, is yes. And if this agent, Ortiz is guilty of which the crime he is charged, it also raises the question, how dishonest was he (meaning how many times did he steal money) and got away with it long before he applied to the US Border Patrol? 

 I also have to assume he too, took a polygraph test as a prerequisite for employment, it only tells me another dishonest, unethical cop fooled the polygrah test and passed, while honest applicants with ethics are rejected because of a "false possitive" reading on their poly results.  

  mike_C.

Correction:

 This is the article I was having trouble with, which I was now finally able to cut and paste.  Sorry for any confusion. 
  

 U.S. Agent Charged in Immigrant Smuggling
By Richard Marosi, Times Staff Writer


A Mexican man who allegedly used a false document to become a U.S. Border Patrol agent was charged Friday with smuggling illegal immigrants through his patrol area in eastern San Diego County. 

Oscar Antonio Ortiz, 28, and another Border Patrol agent this year allowed groups of as many as 50 migrants to cross into California, charging $300 per person, according to the criminal complaint.

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Ortiz, authorities allege, is a Tijuana-born Mexican citizen who used a copy of a Chicago man's birth certificate with his employment application in 2001.

He was arrested Thursday in Escondido in northern San Diego County and is being held in a federal detention facility until his bail hearing Aug. 18.

The other agent was not identified, and authorities would not comment on whether that agent would face charges.

Both agents were assigned to the El Cajon Border Patrol Station.

Ortiz, in several intercepted telephone conversations with the other agent, was allegedly heard discussing their arrangement with a Mexican smuggler to bring migrants through their patrol area about 50 miles east of San Diego. 

In a phone conversation between the other agent and family members, the agent said, "We don't do anything, just clear the way, and we get 300 per head," according to the court documents.

Ortiz faces a possible maximum prison term of 13 years if convicted on the two felony counts.

"Fighting corruption at the border ranks among our highest priorities," said Carol Lam, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California.

Ortiz's attorney was not available for comment. 

Quote:


The U.S. Border Patrol is reportedly in the process of implementing such a requirement. See U.S. Border Patrol to Begin Pre-Employment Polygraph Screening.