ACLU Says Border Inspections Mistreat Travelers
The American Civil Liberties Union said that border inspectors have used excessive force and performed humiliating body searches on travelers entering the United States from Mexico.
The group offered 11 examples of alleged misconduct at crossings in California, Arizona and Texas going back to 2009 in a complaint to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that requests investigations into each one.
The ACLU said its affiliates in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas compiled the testimonies, many from U.S. citizens.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which operates the ports of entry, issued a two-sentence statement that did not address specific allegations.
“CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on- or off-duty,” it read.
