CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE EXPRESSES DISMAY AND OUTRAGE FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF A SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP FOR CURRENT AND FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENTS DEPICTING GRAPHIC AND VULGAR MESSAGES ABOUT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CALLS FOR HEARINGS AND INVESTIGAT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Robin K. Chand
July 1, 2019 202-225-3816
Press Statement
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Expresses Dismay and Outrage Following the Discovery of a Social Media Group for Current and Former Border Patrol Agents Depicting Graphic and Vulgar Messages about Members of Congress and calls for Hearings and Investigations
Jackson Lee: "This report is just the latest in troubling news from our southern border, and specifically as it relates to those charged with housing migrants. While the purpose of the trip was to inspect the conditions met by migrants—which are in and of themselves deplorable—the news of this Facebook group is troubling, and suggestive of a larger problem about accountability at the facility. It is likely that the concerns raised by and the comments made in this Facebook group are at the core of why we cannot solve the immigration crisis at the southern border. As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I call for hearings and investigations of not just the management of these facilities and the origins and circumstances surrounding this social media group, but the wholesale poor management of the U.S.-side of our southern border."
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, senior Member of the House Committees on Budget, Judiciary and Homeland Security released this statement following the discovery of a social media group comprised of current and former border patrol agents depicting vulgar and offensive messages about members of Congress:
"Earlier today, Members of Congress visited facilities in South Texas to inspect the conditions in which migrants are being held at our southern border.
"I am shocked and outraged by news reports that current and former agents of Customs and Border Patrol were members of a secret group on Facebook, in which the participants discussed throwing burritos at visiting members of Congress, joking in profane language about the deaths of migrants, and even posting a vulgar illustration of a visiting member of Congress engaged in a sexual act with a detained migrant. The news and the images were first made public by the group Pro Publica.
"The majority of agents with the United States Customs and Border Patrol are hardworking civil servants—good men and women who care at the border and who are trying to serve their country under difficult circumstances. They are charged with patrolling our borders, and keeping the public safe. The kind of action revealed in today's news report taints their good works, does not reflect the spirit of service these individuals have, and is not representative of the majority of agents. Both in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee and in press reports, the head of CBP, Chief Carla Provost, has indicated that this behavior deviates from expectations and that any violations of standards of conduct will be met with accountability.
"This report is just the latest in troubling news from our southern border, and specifically as it relates to those charged with housing migrants. While the purpose of the trip was to inspect the conditions met by migrants—which are in and of themselves deplorable—the news of this Facebook group is troubling, and suggestive of a larger problem about accountability at the facility. It is likely that the concerns raised by and the comments made in this Facebook group are at the core of why we cannot solve the immigration crisis at the southern border. As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I call for hearings and investigations of not just the management of these facilities and the origins and circumstances surrounding this social media group, but the wholesale poor management of the U.S.-side of our southern border."
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Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas's 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security.