October 25, 2013: The day I was shot — Have you ever had a moment where time seems to stand still? The first and only time I experienced that sensation was on October 25, 2013, the day I was shot while chasing a violent gang member: A moment in time that defined my life. Beginning my day, like any other day When I woke up on…

How a death threat changed my life — It was a wonderful spring day when I received the call from Special Agent Wesley. I answered the phone, thinking he had a simple question, but what he told me was shocking and scary. “Robert, they thought I was you. They said they were going to kill me.” Wesley was…

Don’t wait to replace those old undies. You never know when they will embarrass you, your mom, or your ancestors. — Remember the days of your youth, playing for hours on end outside with your friends, cartoons every morning, pop-tarts and popsicles? And your mom, offering you essential advice to help you grow and become a semi-functional adult. Mom would always say things like, make your bed, brush your teeth, eat…

The childhood joy of conquering a snow-covered hill — The day started normal, like any other day, with cartoons and a fresh bowl of cereal. As I snuggled in next to Dad to watch, the house was quiet since we were the only ones awake. I heard some stirring from the other side of the house and wondered if…

Martin Luther King had a dream, one we need to honor with fulfillment — I pray that now is the time to fulfill Martin Luther King’s dream, a dream so pure and simple that can be easily realized, but so tricky we may never achieve it. For the last twelve years, our nation has become more divided and pitted against each other, moving beyond…

Interviews, Deportations and Forming the Hardness of Heart After graduating from the academy and spending a little time with my family, I reported back to the office in San Francisco. I was excited, having recently officially become an Immigration Agent. …