"Tell your story..."
I'm not going to name units, but this is how it generally works here.
Most of our illegals come from the Dominican Republic to the west. Some island-hop from St. Maarten to the east.
There's a radio communications network that covers the entire island, which is about the size of Connecticut. The ANG has radar. The U.S. Coast Guard, ICE/Border Patrol/Customs, the Puerto Rico Police and the National Guard all tap into both resources.
Specifically, the Army National Guard patrols the shoreline (300 miles, give or take) with scout helicopters using night vision devices and FLIR. Any contact with illegals trying to reach our shores (or drug smugglers, etc.)is reported to the network, and the closest law enforcement assets are directed to the spot. Many times the Coast Guard intercepts the illegals at sea. If they do reach the shore, then the Puerto Rico Police makes the arrests and turns them over to the Feds.
The Puerto Rico Police Department also patrols, makes contact with, and if they have the assets in place, they will take the initiative and conduct operations themselves and then would turn over any illegals or contraband to the Feds.
In return, the Feds share the proceeds of the "loot" with the Puerto Rico Police and the National Guard.
This is all with a minimal Border Patrol presence.
And before anybody asks, yes, there's still the inter-agency bickering, jockying for bragging rights, fighting for funds, keystone cop snafus, etc. Yes, many illegals still get through. But at least on most nights you can sit on the beach, which is our border, and actually see somebody patrolling.
Much thanks for the telling of it.
I, for one, did not know.
R.