Del Olmo on Border Patrol

I was surprised to see Frank del Olmo’s April 14 commentary, “Imagine, the Border Patrol as Model.” Del Olmo seems to argue that, compared to the apparent poor training and conduct displayed by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, as revealed on videotape recently, the Border Patrol provides a positive example of how to apprehend undocumented persons. Unfortunately, Del Olmo vastly overstates the professionalism of the Border Patrol.

While Border Patrol agents are required to speak basic Spanish, this does not mean they do not harbor anti-immigrant sentiments. Some Border Patrol agents refer to undocumented persons as “tonks,” slang for the sound of an agent’s flashlight striking an immigrant’s head, with others preferring the more common slur “wets.”

Del Olmo’s suggestion that the Border Patrol should teach local law enforcement officers “how to arrest them without blowing your professional cool,” is absurd. In our three reports documenting human rights violations committed by Border Patrol agents during the past several years, Human Rights Watch cited countless cases of foot pursuits that ended with serious beatings or rough treatment. These incidents closely parallel beatings by local police following vehicle pursuits, when some officers become scared and angry and take it out on the person arrested.

Neither federal nor local law enforcement agencies have trained all of their officers to behave in a professional and lawful manner in tense situations, or to discipline consistently those who fail to do so. Sadly, in looking for “models” for dealing with post-pursuit abuses, there are currently none to be had.

ALLYSON COLLINS

Senior Researcher

Human Rights Watch, Washington