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Podcasts Take Two
Can they ask you that? How the US Border Patrol functions in South Texas
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Jul 16, 2014
Listen • 4:22
Can they ask you that? How the US Border Patrol functions in South Texas
The detention of immigrant activist Jose Antonio Vargas in McAllen, Texas made us wonder...how does U.S. Customs and Border Patrol function in South Texas?
Immigrants who have been caught crossing the border illegally are housed inside the McAllen Border Patrol Station in McAllen, Texas where they are processed on July 15, 2014 in McAllen, Texas. The detainees are both men and women, and range in age from infants to adults, where more than 350 were being held. Detainees are mostly separated by gender and age, except for infants. More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended at the southwestern border since October, more than twice the total this time last year, many through the Rio Grande Valley. Many are fleeing growing violence in Central America.
Immigrants who have been caught crossing the border illegally are housed inside the McAllen Border Patrol Station in McAllen, Texas where they are processed on July 15, 2014 in McAllen, Texas. The detainees are both men and women, and range in age from infants to adults, where more than 350 were being held. Detainees are mostly separated by gender and age, except for infants. More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended at the southwestern border since October, more than twice the total this time last year, many through the Rio Grande Valley. Many are fleeing growing violence in Central America.
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Pool/Getty Images
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The detention of immigrant activist Jose Antonio Vargas in McAllen, Texas made us wonder...how does U.S. Customs and Border Patrol function in South Texas?

On Tuesday, well-known immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas was detained and quickly released by Border Patrol in McAllen, Texas. 

Whether or not he knew what he was getting into before he got trapped in the Texas border town, there are plenty of people who find themselves in the same situation.

We began to wonder how exactly does U.S. Customs and Border Patrol function in South Texas? To address that question and more, Denise Gilman of the University of Texas School of Law joins Take Two.