Former CBP Commissioner Says Recent Abuses By Agents Towards Migrants is a 'Cultural Problem' Within Agencies

ALABAMA - Recent cases of abuse towards migrants and asylum seekers by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, Border Patrol agents and even members of the Texas National Guard have raised concerns of a more systemic problem across the Southwest border.

Last month, the case in which Border Patrol agents declined to cut through the border wall between Arizona and Mexico to rescue a man who had fallen onto the south side of the wall added to the discussion on whether or not law enforcement is responsible for abuses towards migrants crossing the border.

A former CBP commissioner said he was disturbed by August's incident in Arizona which left the migrant waiting in pain for about 24 hours before the fire chief of the Arivaca Fire District ordered the wall to be cut so he could be taken to a Tucson hospital for treatment.

Chris Magnus, who served as commissioner for CBP from 2021 to 2022, said to Arizona Luminaria that Border Patrol not quickly deciding to rescue the man "speaks to a more significant cultural problem" that is not solely affecting Border Patrol, but "anywhere in law enforcement when those sworn to protect forget that protecting lives must be their top priority regardless of politics, bureaucracy, burn-out or fear of repercussions," Magnus said.

He added that it was "disappointing" that no CBP agent or supervisor would make the decision to cut through the wall to save someone whose life was in danger.

In recent months, the agency has received lots of criticism in the way they handle themselves when coming across migrants. Earlier this month, The Latin Times reported that over 200 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers were put under investigation for alleged misconduct, including trafficking, bribery, and sexual assault.

Another recent report from The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) and The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (Florence Project) also revealed a broad range of abuse experienced by unaccompanied minors in CBP custody along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and California.

According to the report, children were subjected to hunger, physical abuse such as pushing, kicking and punching by federal agents, as well as brandishing of weapons to instill fear.

No protocols in place

It took almost 24 hours for the man to be rescued by Arivaca firefighters, but according to the emergency response incident report, the man could have been saved earlier.

Emergency responders requested for air transport twice, but it was declined due to weather conditions.

Arivaca fire chief Tangye Beckham first requested air transport about 20 hours after the man had first fallen. She said that despite Border Patrol agents being on the scene, "they were being told by their management they could not make a decision" about cutting the border wall.

"They had the tools," Beckham said, "and they could have cut the wall quickly and easily and saved the man hours of suffering," she added.

Beckham said she asked to get in contact with CBP leadership a few days after the incident to establish protocols in case something like this happens again. Despite the incident taking place almost one month ago, Beckham said she has not heard back from CBP as of Sept. 16.