There have been quite a few threads lately about Trump's policies towards immigration, with a focus on the conditions at the immigrant detention centers along the border. But one thing that strikes me is about the culture of the Border Patrol itself.
For example, there's a Border Patrol agent on trial here for allegedly running down a Guatemalan man with his pickup truck and then lying about it. However, a search warrant has uncovered a number racially offensive text messages revealing the underlying culture within the Border Patrol itself. The defense attorney in the case says that such language is "commonplace."
Jury to see 'racially offensive' texts by BP agent accused of running down suspect
The defense attorney is saying that such language is commonplace and is reflective of the Border Patrol culture, but (he argues) has no bearing on the defendant's state of mind at the time of the offense. The Border Patrol agent is claiming that he hit the Guatemalan man by accident.
My impression is that this kind of culture has existed within the Border Patrol for quite some time, even before Trump's inauguration.
For example, there's a Border Patrol agent on trial here for allegedly running down a Guatemalan man with his pickup truck and then lying about it. However, a search warrant has uncovered a number racially offensive text messages revealing the underlying culture within the Border Patrol itself. The defense attorney in the case says that such language is "commonplace."
Jury to see 'racially offensive' texts by BP agent accused of running down suspect
As Bowen's case heads to trial on Aug. 13, his defense lawyer Sean Chapman and federal prosecutors have battled over whether a jury will see several dozen text messages sent or received by Bowen before and after the incident.
In the messages, Bowen called people apprehended by agents "disgusting subhuman ****," and repeatedly used "tonk," a word widely known as a racial epithet for border-crossers, court documents showed. Chapman argued in court filings that Bowen's language is "commonplace" within the Border Patrol, and that presenting the text messages in court would "prejudice" a jury. Prosecutors said the texts show the agent's "state of mind and intent."
In her 11-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson ruled that many of the text messages sent by Bowen and unveiled by a March search warrant, should be shown to the jury — including messages that contain "racially offensive language."
The defense attorney is saying that such language is commonplace and is reflective of the Border Patrol culture, but (he argues) has no bearing on the defendant's state of mind at the time of the offense. The Border Patrol agent is claiming that he hit the Guatemalan man by accident.
My impression is that this kind of culture has existed within the Border Patrol for quite some time, even before Trump's inauguration.