Hold CBP accountable

 

Last week, we sent you our new investigation, which shows how a lack of accountability shielded Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from being appropriately disciplined for violence against their domestic partners and sexual misconduct against their colleagues. But this isn’t the first we’ve learned about unconscionable behavior at CBP. For years, officers from the largest law enforcement agency in the country have faced few consequences for mistreating migrants. Within hours of POGO publishing the investigation, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Alejandro Mayorkas responded to the revelations by promising a review of the agency’s employee misconduct discipline process. In our latest analysis piece, I discuss why an internal review won’t cut it. As our reporting makes clear, the agency’s entire process for investigating and disciplining misconduct is completely broken. It’s no wonder that nearly half of surveyed CBP employees do not believe that their colleagues are held accountable for their actions. If this is how the agency handles misconduct against its employees, how does it handle the abuse of migrants and other members of the public? The department has failed to follow through on promises of internal reviews in the past. Congress must step up and hold DHS and CBP accountable and force change, or we will continue to learn about cases of abuse against agency employees and the public. Read our full piece now to learn why external oversight is vital. Katherine Hawkins Senior Legal Analyst Project On Government Oversight Contribute Project On Government Oversight 1100 13th Street NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005-4281 United States