Possibility of Border Patrol Corruption Poses Security Threat: Report

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s disciplinary system takes far too long to resolve misconduct cases, making it an ineffective deterrent to corruption of border agents and posing a potential national security risk, according to findings of an independent task force.

The 49-page report issued Tuesday by the CBP Integrity Advisory Panel highlights concern over the threat that corruption within the Border Patrol could pose, particularly given the aid that corrupt officers could provide those trying to infiltrate the border.

“Corrupt CBP law enforcement personnel pose a national security threat,” states the report, which was submitted Tuesday to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Gangs and drug cartels “employ a variety of methods in an attempt to target, recruit and corrupt law enforcement personnel who then can facilitate the smuggling of drugs and people and other criminal activity,” the report states. “Such corrupt officials can assist the cartels by providing intelligence and facilitating the movement of large amounts of contraband.”

The agency now lacks any form of proactive initiatives to weed out corruption, instead investigating based on reporting from other employees, other government agencies or the public.

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