US Border Patrol investigate ‘disturbing’ secret Facebook group

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US officials are investigating a secret Facebook group where border patrol members allegedly posted racist and sexist jokes about migrants.

The private group had about 9,500 members, including former and current border patrol agents, ProPublica reported.

Some posts mocked migrant deaths, while others targeted Latino members of Congress, ProPublica said.

The Border Patrol chief has called the posts “completely inappropriate”.

“Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable,” Carla Provost said.

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The group was called “I’m 10-15”, ProPublica said – 10-15 being Border Patrol code for “aliens in custody”.

According to ProPublica, members of the group mocked Latino members of Congress who visited migrant detention centres in Texas on Monday.

Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Veronica Escobar were among those said to be targeted, with members calling them “hoes” and “scum buckets”.

In one post, a member reportedly suggested throwing burritos at them, while another depicted a doctored image that showed Ms Ocasio-Cortez performing a sex act.

The BBC was not able to independently verify the existence of the private group, which is not publicly accessible on Facebook.

Matthew Klein, an assistant commissioner at the CBP, said the Department of Homeland Security has launched an investigation into the group, which violated the agency’s code of conduct.

He said a number of CBP agents may be members of the group, without elaborating on their roles.

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AFP