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Border patrol agent Clay Lynn moves through a bus while searching for illegal immigrants in Rochester, New York. In the back of the bus, agent Dave Erikson calls in to check the status of a questionable passenger. When necessary, the apprehension process can be cumbersome and confusing; agents must often work with passengers who do not speak english, attempt to obtain identification, and verify the validity of the presented I.D. with numerous identity databases via phone operators.
An Amtrak passenger looks up at border patrol agents Ryan Howe, left, and Michael Geiger in Rochester, New York. The agents were searching the train for people who are not legally qualified to be in the United states; the man was not apprehended. Agents deal with the accusation of stereotyping, yet they feel this is unjustified. Agent Adrian Cotsworth explained, 'I don't control where the illegal aliens on that train are from, we question everybody, we detain the people that are in the country illegally...We arrest people from all over the world, if we were profiling that wouldn't happen.'
Border Patrol agent Michael Geiger asks a passenger what country he is a citizen of on an Amtrak train in Rochester, New York. The agents often commented on how conversational they attempt to be in order to seem less authoritarian during the searching process; however, for the interviewed, this often goes unnoticed.
Agent Rodriquez checks the identification of two bus passengers in Rochester, New York. While the agents can go days without arrests, they'll also have periods of high activity, often arresting up to six people in a matter of minutes. The Rochester station has made a name for itself on the Canadian border; in 2007 they arrested more than 1,200 people, more than the majority of arrests of other northern-border stations when combined.
Border Patrol agent Clay Lynn adjusts the handcuffs of a man who identified himself as 'Jose,' who was arrested on a Grayhound bus in Rochester, New York. The man was apprehended for admitting that he was not a legal United States citizen, and for not being able to produce documents showing he was in the country legally. He was later processed in the Rochester, New York, border patrol station, and then delivered to Batavia Detention Center, where he will wait to go before an immigration judge.
The 4-year-old son of Djamila Hassan reaches up while Hassan and Agent Eric Klein discuss why she and her children were taken off the Amtrak train which was enroute to New York City. After hours of investigation, faxes, phone calls and consulting with lawyers, Hassan was released under special circumstances and returned to the transportation terminal. Agents say apprehending parents with young children is one of the toughest parts of the job, but the strict action is required by new laws that have past since September 11, 2001.
Border Patrol agent Eric Klein watches while Djamila Hassan carries her luggage and monitors her children after being removed from the train in Rochester, New York. Hassan, who was born in Chad and grew up in Guyan, was rejected for United States citizenship in 2002 and asked to voluntarily leave. She decided to stay in the country, married a United States citizen and reapplied for citizenship. However, because her application is pending and she did not have proper paperwork, Klein apprehended her. Eventually she was released.
A man who identified himself as 'Jose' has his photo taken by agent Dave Erikson in the border patrol station in Rochester, New York. The apprehended man said he was travelling through New York in search of work, but did not have proper I.D. On an average day, a traveler without valid identification can be transported to Batavia Detention Center within a few hours of being apprehended.
Agent Eric Klein briefly looks up while sorting through paperwork for Djamila Hassan's file. The woman and her children, who were apprehended on the Amtrak station going to New York City, have fallen asleep while waiting for paperwork from their lawyer.
Border patrol agents Michael Geiger, left, and Ryan Howe, wait for an Amtrak train in Rochester, New York, to check the citizenship of passengers. Agents will wait for hours for the trains to arrive, but only have a few minutes to check the hundreds of people aboard before the train must depart again. Still, they make it clear they enjoy the job and its intricacies; as Agent Clay Lynn noted, 'If I had a regular job, I would do this stuff for free on the weekends.'