Over 200 Border Officials Are Under Investigation for Smuggling, Sex Assault and Bribery, Report Shows

On Monday, a report from The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) and The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (Florence Project) revealed a broad range of abuse experienced by unaccompanied minors in Border Patrol custody along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and California. Abuses cited include children being subjected to hunger, physical abuse such as pushing, kicking, and punching by federal agents, and the brandishing of weapons to instill fear.

On Wednesday, CBP agents were in even hotter water as Newsweek revealed that over 200 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are under investigation for alleged misconduct, including trafficking, bribery, and sexual assault.

The data, which covers the 2023-2024 fiscal year, reveals accusations ranging from domestic violence and migrant smuggling to criminal gang associations. Overall, 211 CBP officers are implicated in these investigations, with 17 facing domestic violence claims, 11 accused of sexual assault, and 10 involved in alleged migrant smuggling operations.

The cases are being investigated by CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), an internal body responsible for addressing misconduct within the agency. However, concerns have been raised about the OPR's ability to conduct impartial investigations. Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva told Newsweek that transparency in the proceedings might be at risk:

"CBP's OPR is not an independent investigatory unit; it is made up of fellow CBP agents, many of whom have abused their positions of trust and been rehired or reassigned to OPR. It is well known for its history of coverups. I would urge Secretary Mayorkas and the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security to have these agents investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations."

A CBP spokesperson reaffirmed that the agency does not tolerate misconduct and cooperates fully with both criminal and administrative investigations. They emphasized that all allegations, whether involving on-duty or off-duty officers, are thoroughly investigated with appropriate oversight.

Human rights organizations have responded to the misconduct revelations, calling for stronger oversight and systemic reform. Nicole Elizabeth Ramos, director of Al Otro Lado's border rights project, labeled the CBP's practices as part of "a culture of impunity", while Amnesty International's Amy Fisher urged Congress to "take a serious look at the systemic nature of the abuses and the ineffective accountability mechanisms that allow this systemic issue to persist."