Human Rights First Questions CBP Deployments

Rights Protection Must Be at the Center of Government Response to Protests

WASHINGTON – In response to news that Customs and Border Patrol is “deploying officers, agents and aviation assets nationwide at the request of federal, state, and local partners,” Human Rights First’s President and CEO, Mike Breen, issued the following statement:

“At a time when Americans are in the streets demanding that the human rights of Black Americans be recognized and protected, it is concerning to learn that CBP personnel will be deploying to our communities. As an institution, CBP does not have a track record of prioritizing the protection of the rights of those it encounters or who have been placed in its care.

“In recent hours we have seen police attacks on journalists that one would normally associate with autocracies, escalatory behavior from some police forces, and inflammatory rhetoric from the White House. CBP’s entry into this already violent situation seems more likely to aggravate tensions than to promote peaceful outcomes.”

Press

Published on May 31, 2020

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