Hundreds of border agents under investigation for misconduct: Report

Lauren Taylor

HUNDREDS 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 SMUGGLING, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY NEWSWEEK REPORTEDLY SHOW THAT MORE THAN 200 OFFICERS ARE IMPLICATED IN VARIOUS OFFENSES, INCLUDING 17 CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE… 11 ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT… AND 10 INSTANCES OF SMUGGLING MIGRANTS ACROSS THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.

11 AGENTS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE OF DETAINEES, AND 13 ARE LINKED TO CRIMINAL GANGS.

ADDITIONALLY… THE CBP IS LOOKING INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.

A SPOKESPERSON AT THE AGENCY RESPONDED TO THESE INVESTIGATIONS… STATING “CBP DOES NOT TOLERATE MISCONDUCT WITHIN OUR RANKS. WE IMMEDIATELY REFER ANY ALLEGED OR POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT FOR INVESTIGATION AND COOPERATE FULLY WITH CRIMINAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES.”

THESE INVESTIGATIONS COME AFTER SEVERAL CASES THIS YEAR… INCLUDING AN OFFICER KIDNAPPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A TEENAGER IN AUGUST… BRINGING SCRUTINY TO THE AGENCY’S OWN OVERSIGHT.

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

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.