Amid Pressure to Stop Killing Border Residents, Another Fatality Occurs Southern Border Region/Washington, D.C. - October 21, 2015 - Today, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent shot and killed a man at the Calexico West Port of Entry in California. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) alleges that the man approached on his bike and was carrying a knife. CBP also stated that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, the Calexico Police Department and CBP are investigating the incident. More details about the incident are expected. Continue reading

  By: Adolfo Flores For years, drivers stopped by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Mexico have filed complaints alleging excessive force, intimidation, and other civil rights violations. But according to a report released Thursday by the ACLU, many either went ignored or glossed over, allowing agents to act with a sense of impunity. Among the complaints, a woman recalled being pulled over by two agents at night “in the middle of nowhere” after crossing into California with her 4-year-old daughter in 2012. When they appeared flustered during the ensuing search and interrogation, the agents reportedly said, “Only criminals and people trying to hide things get nervous.” Continue reading

  Southern Border Region:  Today, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released findings demonstrating what they allege to be a reduction in use-of-force since 2011. While the information shared is welcomed by border rights advocates, many questions still remain. Representatives of the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) stated the following. Continue reading

  Additional Reforms Needed to Strengthen Oversight, Accountability and Protect Human Rights Border Region: Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced new standards governing transport, escort, detention and search-referred to collectively as TEDS. These standards establish agency-wide, minimum standards for U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations. The announcement follows litigation and extensive documentation demonstrating human rights abuses in CBP custody, including denial of food, water, medical care, basic sanitation, verbal, physical and sexual abuse and other unnecessarily harsh and punitive conditions. Continue reading

  First known federal indictment of an agent for killing in nearly 100 years Southern Border Region: On Wednesday afternoon a federal grand jury indicted Border Patrol Agent Lonnie Swartz on a second-degree murder charge for a cross-border shooting that killed 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez. The indictment allows for a criminal trial to proceed. Continue reading

  Border communities urge White House to implement meaningful oversight SOUTHERN BORDER: Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the completion of the second phase of its body-worn camera feasibility study. For over three years, border communities have urged Administration officials to equip all CBP officers and agents with body-worn cameras, paired with privacy protections, in response to the agency's out-of-control pattern of excessive force. Continue reading

  New Investigative Report Reveals Disturbing Connections Between Outside Organizations and the Nation’s Largest Immigration Enforcement Unions Washington DC—On a press call today, representatives from the Center for a New Community (CNC), along with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Southern Borders Communities Coalition (SBCC) gathered to discuss the findings of a new report revealing a systemic pattern of behind-the-scenes collusion between the enforcement unions and the leaders of some of the most prominent anti-immigrant hate groups. Continue reading

  Washington, DC - A scolding internal report performed by the CBP Integrity Advisory Panel, a subcommittee of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, concludes that the nation's largest law enforcement agency, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), needs to improve its use-of-force policies and training and it may be vulnerable to corruption due to the lack of adequate oversight personnel. Continue reading

  SOUTHERN BORDER -- Last week, leaders from the nation’s capital and the southern and northern border met with top-level officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Seattle, Washington to discuss policy recommendations that, if implemented, would significantly improve accountability, oversight and transparency in the nation’s largest law enforcement agency. The gathering was hosted by OneAmerica, a Seattle-based organization that leads civic engagement and immigrant rights efforts in Washington State. Continue reading

  San Diego, Southern Border Region: A woman died Thursday morning following a crash between a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vessel and a panga boat carrying 20 migrants, including men and women. Questions remain as to how the crash occurred, why warning shots were fired, and what can be done to avoid similar situations which are life-threatening for passengers. Continue reading