One of the most hotly contested issues of our time - the US-Mexico border - stretches more than 2,000 miles. It's protection is led by a thin-line of overworked and underfunded US Border Patrol agents. Vincent Vargas, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, later served with the Border Patrol. His new book, BORDERLINE: Defending the Homefront, which publishes November 14, 2023, provides a thorough insiders look at just how dangerous defending the border is. Vargas, who was one of the stars of the FX TV series, Mayans, hits on some key issues about the border situation including: Border Patrol has more agents of Latino/Hispanic heritage than any other race, debunking the myth that all BP agents are racist DC law makers don't know the challenges on a day to day basis for BP agents nor do they have the boots-on-the-ground experience The border is two issues simultaneously: immigration AND homeland security Dealing with dangerous water rescues as well as violent drug traffickers and human trafficking coyotes He has great empathy for those making the dangerous journey to try to get to America for a better life as his own grandmother came to the US as a young girl as an undocumented immigrant He is straightforward about the BP mission - sympathy aside there is a job to do to protect the border and the security of America He points out the overlooked US policy to assist in helping immigrants to become US citizens legally Vargas notes that it is the US's job to educate and facilitate safe and legal entry for those wanting to come to America for a better life

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