Not only is Border Patrol chief Carla Provost still in her job after it was revealed she was a member of a vile, not-so-secret Facebook group where her subordinates mocked the death of a child in their custody, Customs and Border Protection is also refusing to say whether she’s among the 70 employees under investigation for their participation in the group.
Spokesperson Kelly Cahalan told Newsweek that the agency was investigating the employees for "alleged inappropriate social media activity within three private social media groups” but refused to say if Provost was among them, claiming that "CBP cannot discuss the status of individual investigations at this time."
But Provost herself after initial reports on the Facebook group that employees who violated agency standards—it has those, apparently—would be disciplined: “These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honor and integrity I see—and expect—from our agents day in and day out,” she said. “Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable.”
Participants reportedly griped about members of Congress visiting border facilities to conduct their oversight responsibilities: “One member encouraged Border Patrol agents to hurl a ‘burrito at these bitches,’” ProPublica reported. “Another, apparently a patrol supervisor, wrote, ‘Fuck the hoes.’ ‘There should be no photo ops for these scum buckets,’ posted a third member.” One member speculated that the deaths of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his baby, Valeria, at the border were possibly fake.
The Facebook group remained up as of last week, but membership did dwindle from 9,500 to 4,000 as exposed members fled like rats after the group was exposed in the media. Matt Klein, Assistant Commissioner for CBP's Office for Professional Responsibility, said the number of those investigated could grow, but like Cahalan, refused to say whether Provost would be included. She should—and she should be kicked out on her ass too.