Juan Mora, a history professor at Indiana University, dives deep into the U.S. Border Patrol's evolution shaped by 20th-century immigration laws. He discusses the critical impact of key legislations like the 1917 Immigration Act and the 1924 National Origins Act on agency formation. Mora highlights early challenges faced by the Border Patrol, including funding and ethnic tensions, and the complexities of its 100-mile jurisdiction. The conversation also touches on the increasing representation of Latino agents and their motivations to join the force.