New Authority for Customs and Border Protection Marks Important Step to Prevent Abuse to Border Residents and Migrants

This new policy is a positive first step to a more thorough and accountable procedure to investigate abuses and misconduct at our borders.  For years, human rights advocates have called upon the government to improve the transparency of investigations at the border and we hope today marks a sea change to our nation’s policies to no longer allow atrocities at the border to proceed without justice.  We stress the importance of the agency’s commitment to using information gathered during its investigations to inform agency policy and improve training for CBP staff and we hope the newly formed Integrity Advisory Panel will include genuine participation from a wide and diverse range of stakeholders.