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The culture of the US Border Patrol

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
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

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.
 

leov

Well-Known Member
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.
The truth is that US needs those people from the South America badly.
 

The Reverend Bob

Fart Machine and Beastmaster
Well, they lump asylum seekers, refugees and illegal immigrants all together as a common enemy, so I think their must be some demonization and dehumanization going on within that culture
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
There is also the influence of those on top to either condone/ignore the culture or actively work to change the culture.

There are a gazillion reflections on changing corporate culture and this applies to the border patrol as well as government agencies in general.
 

The Reverend Bob

Fart Machine and Beastmaster
There is also the influence of those on top to either condone/ignore the culture or actively work to change the culture.

There are a gazillion reflections on changing corporate culture and this applies to the border patrol as well as government agencies in general.
It always starts at the top, doesn't it?
 

Neutral Name

Active Member
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.

I'm surprised that you're surprised. Isn't that the culture of law enforcement? I know that there are some good officers in any force but there are many who are racist, violent, uncaring about people with mental disorders or disabilities, those who like to assert their authority a little too much and those who just love to hurt other people. This might belong in the psychopath thread. Anyway, I live near Syracuse, NY. Not too long ago some nice white police officers drug a teenager out of his car because he was playing his music too loudly. Oh, did I forget to mention that he was black. I have heard cars playing loud music since I was young in the 1970s. It is a little unusual for police officers to struggle with such violent offenders as loud music players. There must have just been something about the kid's behavior as he sat in his car doing nothing wrong.

When I was in the Navy, I had to work with the Navy police on a few occasions. They would say things like let's go down to the club and smash some heads with our batons. Then they would laugh.

When my son was a teenager, he skateboarded. The local police would follow him and the other skateboarders around and harass them constantly.

When I was 18, I had one State Police officer who would stop me everyday after work. Hum, I wonder what I did so wrong for him to do this? I wasn't even speeding.

And on and on and on and on.

Many law enforcement officers are not officers of the law. They are psychopaths with badges. Again, there are a few good ones.
 

averageJOE

zombie
The culture of the Border Patrol is really no different than any other form of law enforcement. It's an agency full of racist, sociopath bullies. Check out the Facebook group that consisted of roughly 9,500 members. Even a Border Patrol chief was a member. This is NOT a "few bad apples". The culture is bringing this type of behavior out of its officers.

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

Border Patrol’s toxic culture goes way beyond Facebook groups. It's actually for sale on a t-shirt.

Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost Was a Member of Secret Facebook Group

See disturbing posts in a closed border agent Facebook group - CNN Video
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm surprised that you're surprised. Isn't that the culture of law enforcement? I know that there are some good officers in any force but there are many who are racist, violent, uncaring about people with mental disorders or disabilities, those who like to assert their authority a little too much and those who just love to hurt other people. This might belong in the psychopath thread. Anyway, I live near Syracuse, NY. Not too long ago some nice white police officers drug a teenager out of his car because he was playing his music too loudly. Oh, did I forget to mention that he was black. I have heard cars playing loud music since I was young in the 1970s. It is a little unusual for police officers to struggle with such violent offenders as loud music players. There must have just been something about the kid's behavior as he sat in his car doing nothing wrong.

When I was in the Navy, I had to work with the Navy police on a few occasions. They would say things like let's go down to the club and smash some heads with our batons. Then they would laugh.

When my son was a teenager, he skateboarded. The local police would follow him and the other skateboarders around and harass them constantly.

When I was 18, I had one State Police officer who would stop me everyday after work. Hum, I wonder what I did so wrong for him to do this? I wasn't even speeding.

And on and on and on and on.

Many law enforcement officers are not officers of the law. They are psychopaths with badges. Again, there are a few good ones.

It's not that I'm really all that "surprised" by it, but maybe you'd be surprised by just how many people in this country give a blank check of support to the police no matter what. I've seen this come up over and over, especially when there are allegations of police brutality or other misconduct. The police have countless defenders coming out of the woodwork demanding that we give them "the benefit of the doubt" and gushing over our saintly and noble "men in blue."

That's a part of American culture as well, which includes a widespread propensity to blindly defer to anyone carrying a badge or wearing a uniform or wearing the black robe of a judge. As far as I'm concerned, it's those people who enable any and all forms of police brutality and other such abuses of power.
 

Neutral Name

Active Member
It's not that I'm really all that "surprised" by it, but maybe you'd be surprised by just how many people in this country give a blank check of support to the police no matter what. I've seen this come up over and over, especially when there are allegations of police brutality or other misconduct. The police have countless defenders coming out of the woodwork demanding that we give them "the benefit of the doubt" and gushing over our saintly and noble "men in blue."

That's a part of American culture as well, which includes a widespread propensity to blindly defer to anyone carrying a badge or wearing a uniform or wearing the black robe of a judge. As far as I'm concerned, it's those people who enable any and all forms of police brutality and other such abuses of power.

Thanks for telling me that. I didn't know but I can say that I am seldom blinded by people pretending to be something that they aren't. I'm always on the alert for evil and hoping for good.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
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.

I could see this as a reasonable assumption. Law enforcement, and the military, tend to like authoritarian personalities thus all sorts of nastiness.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
It's not that I'm really all that "surprised" by it, but maybe you'd be surprised by just how many people in this country give a blank check of support to the police no matter what. I've seen this come up over and over, especially when there are allegations of police brutality or other misconduct. The police have countless defenders coming out of the woodwork demanding that we give them "the benefit of the doubt" and gushing over our saintly and noble "men in blue."

That's a part of American culture as well, which includes a widespread propensity to blindly defer to anyone carrying a badge or wearing a uniform or wearing the black robe of a judge. As far as I'm concerned, it's those people who enable any and all forms of police brutality and other such abuses of power.

I've said it before. I will say it again. Cops investigating cops is a mistake. A few incidents in Canada motivated the Fed to create an independent investigation department with no links to police or RCMP. The US Fed should be screaming bloody murder when comparing incidents between nations.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
The culture of the Border Patrol is really no different than any other form of law enforcement. It's an agency full of racist, sociopath bullies. Check out the Facebook group that consisted of roughly 9,500 members. Even a Border Patrol chief was a member. This is NOT a "few bad apples". The culture is bringing this type of behavior out of its officers.

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

Border Patrol’s toxic culture goes way beyond Facebook groups. It's actually for sale on a t-shirt.

Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost Was a Member of Secret Facebook Group

See disturbing posts in a closed border agent Facebook group - CNN Video

Canada introduced mental evaluation as part of joining RCMP and cops. Really needs to be part of the American systems.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I've said it before. I will say it again. Cops investigating cops is a mistake. A few incidents in Canada motivated the Fed to create an independent investigation department with no links to police or RCMP. The US Fed should be screaming bloody murder when comparing incidents between nations.

I remember an incident several years ago in which some Border Patrol agents pulled over a vehicle for "driving suspiciously" or something like that. Turned out he had a load of marijuana in the trunk, and then he tried to run away. He wasn't armed, but as he was running away, the Border Patrol agent said that he turned and that he thought he had a gun. So he shot and killed the guy.

Because it happened within Pima County, the Pima County Sheriff's Department sent out an investigator. When his report was filed, it noted that the Border Patrol agents were incredulous that they were even being investigated, saying things like "We're all cops here. Why are you questioning us?" They didn't even understand why there had to be an investigation.

I remember there was a small riot over the acquittal of a Border Patrol agent last year.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Canada introduced mental evaluation as part of joining RCMP and cops. Really needs to be part of the American systems.
I think body cams are effective in protecting both the officer and the person being detained or arrested.
 

Shad

Veteran Member
I remember an incident several years ago in which some Border Patrol agents pulled over a vehicle for "driving suspiciously" or something like that. Turned out he had a load of marijuana in the trunk, and then he tried to run away. He wasn't armed, but as he was running away, the Border Patrol agent said that he turned and that he thought he had a gun. So he shot and killed the guy.

Because it happened within Pima County, the Pima County Sheriff's Department sent out an investigator. When his report was filed, it noted that the Border Patrol agents were incredulous that they were even being investigated, saying things like "We're all cops here. Why are you questioning us?" They didn't even understand why there had to be an investigation.

I remember there was a small riot over the acquittal of a Border Patrol agent last year.

Reminds me of Dredd. People will make any excuse to lift themselves above the law.

 
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