In the Border Patrol, “cutting sign” is slang that essentially means that an agent has detected evidence of a non-documented migrant in the area. When an agent is “on the line,” it means he or she is patrolling the border—the line between the United States and (usually) Mexico. Therefore, the phrase “Cutting Sign on the Line” means locating evidence (or tracking) of non-documented migrants on the border.

The recent discussions surrounding immigration policies have highlighted the importance of collections like this.  Primary sources of historical information about the Border Patrol can give important context to current events.