One border agent that can turn away from an operation can have significant long-term effects.

Gene's role changed almost weekly from rancher, to ranch hand, to sheriff, to border agent, etc.

Border agents cross-referenced his name to the second list after the plane had taken off.

When border agents grew suspicious, the group claimed not to know each other but officials found a photograph of them together.

In the past few months at least 70 groups of more than 100 people have crossed illegally in rural locations where there are few border agents.