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Borderline: Defending the Home Front
An inside look at the U.S./Mexican border through the eyes of former U.S. Border Patrol agent, Vincent Vargas, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.
Featuring a Foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jocko Willink.
The U.S./Mexican border stretches nearly 2,000 miles and is protected by a thin line of overworked and underfunded U.S. Border Patrol Agents, who risk their lives every day. Stigmatized in the media and fought over in the halls of Washington D.C., this is the true story of what is really happening on the U.S./Mexican border.
Borderline provides an inside look through the eyes of former U.S. Border Patrol agent Vincent Vargas, who is no stranger to violence, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.
The story begins on the battlefields of the Middle East and culminates on the southwest border of the United States, where Vargas was tasked with protecting his country, his fellow agents, and the immigrants caught in the middle. He learned firsthand about the unforgiving brutality of the cartels, human traffickers and the desert.
After bearing witness to the carnage, Vargas made the decision to join the Border Patrol’s elite search & rescue unit called BORSTAR.
With almost unfettered access, Vargas provides an in-depth, never-before-seen look into the U.S. Border Patrol, from the agency’s origins to its present-day missions.
Featuring a Foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jocko Willink.
The U.S./Mexican border stretches nearly 2,000 miles and is protected by a thin line of overworked and underfunded U.S. Border Patrol Agents, who risk their lives every day. Stigmatized in the media and fought over in the halls of Washington D.C., this is the true story of what is really happening on the U.S./Mexican border.
Borderline provides an inside look through the eyes of former U.S. Border Patrol agent Vincent Vargas, who is no stranger to violence, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.
The story begins on the battlefields of the Middle East and culminates on the southwest border of the United States, where Vargas was tasked with protecting his country, his fellow agents, and the immigrants caught in the middle. He learned firsthand about the unforgiving brutality of the cartels, human traffickers and the desert.
After bearing witness to the carnage, Vargas made the decision to join the Border Patrol’s elite search & rescue unit called BORSTAR.
With almost unfettered access, Vargas provides an in-depth, never-before-seen look into the U.S. Border Patrol, from the agency’s origins to its present-day missions.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2023
43 people are currently reading
2449 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 27, 2023
More now, than ever, it is important for more people like Vincent Vargas to tell their stories.
"If we cannot control who and what enters our homeland, we have no security, and ultimately no nation."
Vargas provides not only his story of working with the U.S. Border Patrol, but important historical and current information to help his readers learn the crucial differences between the various federal agencies responsible for security at our borders, writing and enforcing immigration policies and managing the process of securing our homeland.
I agree with his assessment that most Americans are blinded by the mainstream media and, in my opinion, coerced by narratives that tell "a story" and not "the story" of securing America's borders.
His story is worth reading, and it's told in an interesting and engaging fashion. I do recognize the influence of Jocko Willink in his writing style and storytelling, as I've also read several of his books.
Read this book. Tell your friends to read this book.
"If we cannot control who and what enters our homeland, we have no security, and ultimately no nation."
Vargas provides not only his story of working with the U.S. Border Patrol, but important historical and current information to help his readers learn the crucial differences between the various federal agencies responsible for security at our borders, writing and enforcing immigration policies and managing the process of securing our homeland.
I agree with his assessment that most Americans are blinded by the mainstream media and, in my opinion, coerced by narratives that tell "a story" and not "the story" of securing America's borders.
His story is worth reading, and it's told in an interesting and engaging fashion. I do recognize the influence of Jocko Willink in his writing style and storytelling, as I've also read several of his books.
Read this book. Tell your friends to read this book.
November 12, 2023
ARC copy review!
In a world where the information we get is so divisive and misleading, to be able to experience a first hand account of what goes on at the border was truly eye opening. To say I had little to no idea would be an understatement. I thought I had a good idea at what goes on down there…I truly didn’t.
Hearing the first account perspective through a border agents eyes learning what these guys do to vet not only potential threats but victims is crazy. The pressure and training these guys undergo…clearly not just anyone could do.
This book is informative and doesn’t pump you full of persuasive political rhetoric which made this an easy and enlightening read. I’ll be second guessing everything I see coming from the news related to anything about the border. Truly an amazing eye opening read.
In a world where the information we get is so divisive and misleading, to be able to experience a first hand account of what goes on at the border was truly eye opening. To say I had little to no idea would be an understatement. I thought I had a good idea at what goes on down there…I truly didn’t.
Hearing the first account perspective through a border agents eyes learning what these guys do to vet not only potential threats but victims is crazy. The pressure and training these guys undergo…clearly not just anyone could do.
This book is informative and doesn’t pump you full of persuasive political rhetoric which made this an easy and enlightening read. I’ll be second guessing everything I see coming from the news related to anything about the border. Truly an amazing eye opening read.
November 14, 2023
An important non fiction piece that is informative for both past actions of the Border Patrol and for the future patrol agents and the citizens who live near border regions.
Military background and expertise are just a few of the practices that author, Vincent Vargas brings to the forefront.
Keeping citizens aware of the pros and cons and the lives put in danger, on both sides of the border.
This is an excellent and eye opening read and perfect for anyone interested in the security of this nation.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to become a more aware person!
Military background and expertise are just a few of the practices that author, Vincent Vargas brings to the forefront.
Keeping citizens aware of the pros and cons and the lives put in danger, on both sides of the border.
This is an excellent and eye opening read and perfect for anyone interested in the security of this nation.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to become a more aware person!
January 21, 2024
Vincent Vargas has spent his life in the service of our country while serving in special combat units in the military and then moving to the Border and again serving on numerous levels to keep our border safe. His book is about his experiences while giving examples of how the day-to-day operations work. In the closing pages, he offers his solution to the current border issues, including immigration policy.
May 22, 2024
Using his own experience, Vincent Vargas describes the mission of the U.S. Border Patrol, what motivates the members, what they do, and advancement opportunities. He gives a brief history of the service. He includes stories from other members of the service also and provides pictures.
The book was informative and interesting. Having grown up near the northern border, I was familiar with the Border Patrol, but I had no idea how much they did beyond capturing people who came across in other areas or people who tried to smuggle contraband. This is a very readable explanation of what these brave men and women do, their mindset, and their intensive training. This was not a political screed.
The book was informative and interesting. Having grown up near the northern border, I was familiar with the Border Patrol, but I had no idea how much they did beyond capturing people who came across in other areas or people who tried to smuggle contraband. This is a very readable explanation of what these brave men and women do, their mindset, and their intensive training. This was not a political screed.
October 12, 2023
Borderline
I thought this was a great book! It gave a detailed look into the border patrol and its history along with personal accounts and some that left me speechless. The author is seemingly a selfless person and Hero. I enjoyed hearing his story while also learning more about the Border Patrol in general. There’s a lot more to the Border patrol than meets the eye with the different organizations and also their help in places other than the border during times of crisis, training ,etc.
I had the audiobook version and thought it was great!
Thanks Net Galley , Macmillan Audio and the Author for this Audio Arc!
I thought this was a great book! It gave a detailed look into the border patrol and its history along with personal accounts and some that left me speechless. The author is seemingly a selfless person and Hero. I enjoyed hearing his story while also learning more about the Border Patrol in general. There’s a lot more to the Border patrol than meets the eye with the different organizations and also their help in places other than the border during times of crisis, training ,etc.
I had the audiobook version and thought it was great!
Thanks Net Galley , Macmillan Audio and the Author for this Audio Arc!
August 27, 2024
So far this is the only book that tells about an elite unit of the Border Patrol called BORSTAR that I have found. BORSTAR is an acronym for Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue and is a unit of the Border Patrol dedicated to providing search and rescue along with emergency medical care to people in need whether the person is an illegal immigrant, border patrol officer, or just citizen living in the area the unit is assigned. I have read previous books on the Border Patrol due to my interest in tracking and sign cutting. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone interested in law enforcement history but could only give it three stars due to what it is missing rather than it being a bad book. I would have like more details of tracking and what Border Patrol agents do each day in their job defending the US Border. And then the section detailing the author’s time in BORSTAR and in the Border Patrol SOG was short. The author did provide an interesting summary of the illegal immigration problem but he described it once then later devoted another whole chapter to talking about it again. I did enjoy the fact that the author did not write an “I am the greatest” book because he described the good things and the bad things that happened to him during his Border Patrol career. Examples are the difficulties he had with Spanish lessons and then when it looked like he was going to write how he was a hero during an incident at a river he told the truth about the actual event rather than exaggerating the story. Again I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in law enforcement history but I wanted more stories/details.
March 9, 2024
It's a full 4 in content. Maybe even 4.5 stars- but my enjoyment of his writing style and telling was 3 stars. So much so, that I can't round it up.
Admiring men like Vargas with his depth of experience and training. And SERVICE. I still find it hard to read immense lengths of physical or almost encyclopedic details of these training and action programs. From Rangers to the specific medic on the border groups.
It's told with fairness and the detail to how immigrants CAN do it legally is immense. And how that absolute hell of a physical location journey/ walking/ hiding/ starving/ dying of thirst in the deserts or scrubs could be avoided.
This is a Vargas memoir and he is the core. Written with time jumps and some in and out of tangents but still with excellent solution chapters. But nothing about it was a fun read. The photos were 4 or 5 stars.
People dehydrate die, drown, or are trafficked constantly. It didn't need to happen this way at all. And in the last three years the numbers are multiple, multiple of those before. Right now it is groups on Northern borders crossing illegally as well. Many are from China, Middle East, African nations, and are flying into Turkey and then getting secondary flights to Mexico.
I thought he should have been more honest about Mexico's complacency. Trying to be fair in some of his discourse? Politics NEEDS to overshadow this issue more. It could have been done very differently.
Admiring men like Vargas with his depth of experience and training. And SERVICE. I still find it hard to read immense lengths of physical or almost encyclopedic details of these training and action programs. From Rangers to the specific medic on the border groups.
It's told with fairness and the detail to how immigrants CAN do it legally is immense. And how that absolute hell of a physical location journey/ walking/ hiding/ starving/ dying of thirst in the deserts or scrubs could be avoided.
This is a Vargas memoir and he is the core. Written with time jumps and some in and out of tangents but still with excellent solution chapters. But nothing about it was a fun read. The photos were 4 or 5 stars.
People dehydrate die, drown, or are trafficked constantly. It didn't need to happen this way at all. And in the last three years the numbers are multiple, multiple of those before. Right now it is groups on Northern borders crossing illegally as well. Many are from China, Middle East, African nations, and are flying into Turkey and then getting secondary flights to Mexico.
I thought he should have been more honest about Mexico's complacency. Trying to be fair in some of his discourse? Politics NEEDS to overshadow this issue more. It could have been done very differently.
November 29, 2023
Borderline
⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Vincent Vargas
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the early access to the Audiobook, Borderline. I had hoped to finish it prior to the publication date but fell short. Our Border Patrol Agents and the special task forces within the agency are extremely important to national security and helping people in need. I appreciate Vincent’s and others in the agency’s service for our country.
Borderline was different than I thought it would be. I picked it as one of my “Non-Fiction November” reads. I enjoyed learning more about the Border Patrol and special task forces within the agency, but I also felt like it was a text book read and material for people considering applying for the Border Patrol. It did not have the entertainment factor I was looking for.
I appreciate that it was not political at all.
My favorite parts were the details of individual days and operations Vincent and his team participated in such as a water rescue, a fake water rescue, and karaoke night prior to a huge mission in search of escaped inmates. Unfortunately the details of many of the operations are likely confidential.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Vincent Vargas
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the early access to the Audiobook, Borderline. I had hoped to finish it prior to the publication date but fell short. Our Border Patrol Agents and the special task forces within the agency are extremely important to national security and helping people in need. I appreciate Vincent’s and others in the agency’s service for our country.
Borderline was different than I thought it would be. I picked it as one of my “Non-Fiction November” reads. I enjoyed learning more about the Border Patrol and special task forces within the agency, but I also felt like it was a text book read and material for people considering applying for the Border Patrol. It did not have the entertainment factor I was looking for.
I appreciate that it was not political at all.
My favorite parts were the details of individual days and operations Vincent and his team participated in such as a water rescue, a fake water rescue, and karaoke night prior to a huge mission in search of escaped inmates. Unfortunately the details of many of the operations are likely confidential.
March 21, 2024
The stated goal of this book was to give an idea of the day to day work of the border patrol.Vince Vargas did a lot more talking about himself then about the border patrol. It may be interesting to learn about Bortac and Borstar but spending the majority of the time talking about their training and special missions is the exact opposite of explaining Border Patrol’s day to day. When Vargas used the words of other agents, they were always about him, in at least one instance he used them to tell a story about himself, he’d already told. Vargas is right that we are in an immigration crisis and we need to understand the role of Border enforcement. This however was a missed opportunity to do that.
January 2, 2024
What is happening at the border with Mexico will be a major issue in the 2024 elections. I wanted to read what is happening from the perspective of someone on the frontline; someone who is patrolling the border and not sitting in an air conditioned office in the capital. Vincent Vargas takes you on patrol - and you see the heartbreaking decisions that are made everyday on both sides of the border. Read this book to get a very different perspective from the politics that often overshadow this issue.
January 24, 2024
I pulled Vince's book from the shelves at B & N because of its relevance to today's headlines on border and migrant issues. Congratulations, Vince, on the right book at the right time. I salute you for your service overseas and domestically as a Border Agent. I appreciated your objective and informative approach detailing the wide range of issues handled by the CBP with detailed explanations of the complex and competing challenges faced by the agency and its dedicated employees. I encourage readers to take a look.
December 27, 2023
Beautifully written, educational book about not only the harsh training they have to endure but what it's really like living day to day protecting our borders from drug smugglers and human traffickers.
Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Goodreads Giveaways and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Goodreads Giveaways and am voluntarily leaving this review.
December 12, 2025
Lots of technical information about the border patrol…Borstar and Bortac.
This gentleman was a Marine for four years and became a medic and border patrol. His life was full of dedication and one who put his life on the line often.
BP are only there to apprehend and turn over to the judges to process .
This gentleman was a Marine for four years and became a medic and border patrol. His life was full of dedication and one who put his life on the line often.
BP are only there to apprehend and turn over to the judges to process .
December 9, 2023
Learn about the border straight from the horse's mouth. This book looks at all sides of the issue from the perspective of the people who are there. Full of empathy, common sense, and bravery. I learned a lot. I think you will too.
May 20, 2024
An excellent first hand account of working at the border. I appreciate the author's effort to present his experience without a political spin. Anyone who wants to know more about the border and immigration should read this book.
June 28, 2024
It took time for me to find time to read and emotional triggering book. I understood the basics of what the Border Patrol, but this book provided an understanding of everywhere they are and how they are protecting our country. Thank you for writing this book. I will share with others.
November 30, 2023
very good book...An unknown agency🙂
December 8, 2023
Great book. Gives good insight about our southern border and what our border patrol deals with.
December 14, 2023
Excellent insight into the 21st century Boarder Patrol.
December 19, 2023
It was good. Just wish there had a little more of his story
December 24, 2023
Lots of things in this country we don’t ever hear about are these patriots. Amazing read
December 30, 2023
Informative. If you ever wanted to know what a Border Patrol officer does and the training they do, this is the book.
May 27, 2024
so important for everyone in this country to read
June 2, 2024
Very informative for anyone wondering about the U S Border Patrol
November 18, 2024
An excellent book about the border and the border patrol from a member of that organization. For those interested in the border of the United States, this book is a must read.
August 2, 2025
Thank you!
Very interesting. I didn't know there was so much you all did! Thank you for the book and your service!
Very interesting. I didn't know there was so much you all did! Thank you for the book and your service!
January 26, 2024
Really good info. Definitely is written for the "general public" and a lot of things are simplified and uses simple language while it's clear that this guy is an absolute expert in his field.
July 29, 2024
Interesting and informative read. Learned a lot about border security and what goes into it.
August 26, 2024
BW. What a great book by Vincent Vargas. This book was very enlightening. The issue of border security has become so politicized that it's hard to know what the truth is. Getting the facts from those on the front lines has been very helpful. God bless all the border patrol agents for doing their job the best they can while being under the magnifying glass.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews