open.substack.com - Speaking truth to power
I always start out with a bit about myself. I joined in June of 1995 and rose to the rank of Senior Patrol Agent, and so on. I point out the women were not allowed to join until the federal government forced the Border Patrol to take us. I introduce them to Ernestina Lopez, our first Latina agent in training. She never made it to a full agent because she was the first female agent sexually assaulted by her classmate. And thus the rape culture for female agents started.

“Ernestina was raped by her classmate in 1975. Twenty years later, I was raped by my classmate and hazed into the US Border Patrol. She lost her job because she complained. I kept mine because I kept my mouth shut and continued working next to my assaulter,” I calmly say. “That is what it takes to become a Fierce 5%er.”