Is there border patrol check points on the way to south padre and back ?

The reason I ask is because I have a friend that is illegally here n has no visa..and he really wants to go but I'm not sure if I should risk taking him..I live in Houstonn tx..if u gone there lately let me know and if there is what do they ask for because if u would talk to him u would not think he was a mexican has no accent he has been living here since he was 7 now he is 19...plz let me know something asap