More than a year after a racist and vile Facebook group that counted current and border Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents as members was exposed by ProPublica, the agency has blocked key information from congressional investigators, including who was behind the gross posts or even the names of the few agents who were ultimately disciplined for their participation in the group, ProPublica newly reports.
Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar, among the legislators personally targeted by the group with sexist and violent expletives, slammed the agency’s defiance. “More than a year after the existence of the group was reported, CBP continues to obstruct a congressional investigation into the results of the agency’s findings, blatantly shielding agents that have dehumanized immigrants and fostered a culture of cruelty and violence,” she said according to ProPublica.
ProPublica reports “CBP has provided little new information about ‘I’m 10-15’ or its efforts to address toxic attitudes within the ranks. Instead, it has released a basic summary of its findings. The agency has not said who was behind the group or its most egregious posts.”
And it’s refused to name the lone four agents who were fired from the nearly 140 employees who were ultimately investigated. Roughly half were apparently dismissed as “unsubstantiated,” The Los Angeles Times reported last month, and of the rest, most got away with a slap on the wrist. Not only did they get away with it, an internal document revealed by the House Oversight Committee showed the agency negotiated a deal to protect at least one agent who had been recommended for termination.
“CBP continues to obstruct the committee’s investigation by refusing to lift redactions, hiding names and roles of CBP employees as well as employee conduct,” Chair Carolyn Maloney said at the time, “which is preventing the committee from determining whether the specific employees who made these threatening and repugnant posts continue to work for CBP in positions of power over immigrants and children.”
ProPublica reports that one of the four agents who was fired had reportedly suggested locking up migrants in shipping containers, according to sources within the agency. But after apparently running crying to the Breitbart-friendly National Border Patrol Council, he “could potentially win his job back at an upcoming arbitration hearing,” the report said. “The union has condemned the offensive Facebook posts, saying the ‘inappropriate content’ is not representative ‘of our employees and does a great disservice to all Border Patrol agents, the overwhelming majority of whom perform their duties honorably.’”
But former Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost admitted to Congress that she had also been a part of the racist and vile group, though she claimed she had no idea it was a racist and vile group. Her successor, Rodney Scott, was also a member. So, far from a few bad apples. The whole barrel is rotten.
Following the initial report of the four firings last month, Rep. Escobar also tweeted that she never got investigation results from CBP even though she was personally targeted by its agents. “The posts shouldn't have just triggered firings but also an investigation into why other members never reported it,” she said at the time, calling Facebook “a cesspool.” Just like the immigration agency.