FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT : Tom Hargis, Director of Communications, ACLU of Texas, 832.291.4776; [email protected]

The ACLU of Texas expresses its deep concern over recent events involving a Border Patrol agent who is reported to have assaulted three Honduran women immigrants and then killed himself.  We urge that the victims be protected, regardless of immigration status and receive fair treatment as survivors.

This incident is one more in a pattern of CBP abuses in our border communities.  Last September, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on Border Patrol use of force, which identified key problems with training.  This followed revelations by the Government Accountability Office of significant incidence of misconduct within CBP.  We demand that DHS conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of this incident, in parallel to independent review by external investigators and determine what policy and training enhancements are necessary.

The ACLU has made recommendations to DHS regarding CBP oversight and accountability, such as the use of body-worn and dashboard cameras deployed within an appropriate policy framework,  including strong privacy protections.  Cameras should be mandated and funded for all CBP enforcement encounters with the public.