Inside the Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group Where Agents Joke About Migrant Deaths and Post Sexist Memes

ProPublica reports that “[m]embers of a secret Facebook group for current and former Border Patrol agents joked about the deaths of migrants, discussed throwing burritos at Latino members of Congress visiting a detention facility in Texas on Monday and posted a vulgar illustration depicting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaged in oral sex with a detained migrant, according to screenshots of their postings.”

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez toured a detention facility yesterday and claimed that she did not feel safe with the detention officers.

A screenshot of one of the posts in the Facebook group.

The report caught the attention of the New York Times Editorial Board.

UPDATE (July 4):  Fox News reports that Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan announced yesterday that that he has launched an “immediate investigation” into what he called “disturbing & inexcusable” social media posts from Border Patrol agents.

I have directed an immediate investigation, and as the @USBPChief has made clear, any employee found to have compromised the public’s trust in our law enforcement mission will be held accountable. They do not represent the men and women of the Border Patrol or @DHSgov.

— Acting Sec. Kevin McAleenan (@DHSMcAleenan) July 3, 2019

KJ