The Hidden Third Retired ICE Agent | The Hidden Third with Mariana van Zeller
Feb 4, 2026
Eric Balliet, a retired DHS/ICE special agent with 25 years on the line, led high‑stakes wiretap operations and later worked in internal affairs. He recounts border patrol life, hunting cartel figures including the wiretaps that tracked El Chapo, militia violence on the border, problems from rushed ICE hiring, and why he chose to speak out about misconduct.
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First Human-Smuggling Bust Lesson
- Eric Balliet recalls his first human-smuggling load where he was told to "grab two" material witnesses from a fleeing truck.
- The migrants were processed and often voluntarily returned to Mexico while traffickers remained the prosecution focus.
Rocks As Lethal Threats On The Border
- Balliet describes recurring "rocking" attacks at the Nogales fence where people on the Mexican side hurled rocks at agents.
- Agents were trained that rockings could be deadly and to maintain situational awareness near the fence.
DHS Merger Caused Major Operational Chaos
- Balliet calls the DHS merger post‑9/11 "a complete shitshow" with incompatible systems and poor integration.
- He says the consolidation created massive growing pains across communications, equipment, and command chains.