Hundreds of border agents investigated for misconduct: report

Lauren Taylor

HUNDREDS OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL OFFICERS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE AGENCY’S OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RANGE OF MISCONDUCT… INCLUDING DRUG TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY NEWSWEEK ALLEGEDLY SHOW THAT MORE THAN 200 OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING 17 CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE… 11 ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE… AND 10 CASES OF MIGRANT SMUGGLING ACROSS THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

11 OFFICERS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE OF PRISONERS, AND 13 OFFICERS HAVE TIES TO CRIMINAL GANGS.

IN ADDITION… THE CBP INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OFFICE RESPONDED TO THESE INQUIRIES… AND STATED “CBP DOES NOT TOLERATE MISCONDUCT WITHIN OUR RANKS. WE PROMPTLY REFER ANY SUSPECTED OR POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT FOR INVESTIGATION AND COOPERATE FULLY WITH ANY CRIMINAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS.”

THESE INVESTIGATIONS COME AFTER SEVERAL CASES THIS YEAR… INCLUDING AN OFFICER ABIDDING AND SEXUALLY ABUSING A TEENAGER IN AUGUST… WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THE AGENCY’S OVERSIGHT UNDER SCOPE.

CRITICS ARE CALLING FOR THE FBI TO TAKE OVER THE INVESTIGATIONS TO ENSURE A MORE IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION.

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FOR THE PUBLIC NEWS… I AM LAUREN TAYLOR.