A Border Patrol agent is facing a civil suit filed by Jesús Enrique Castro Romo, a resident of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico who was shot by the agent in November 2010 while he lay face down on the ground. The agent, Abel Canales, also faces a federal indictment on charges of accepting brides to repeatedly allow trucks to pass through an immigration checkpoint without inspection. Disturbingly, the corruption charges stem from events observed by investigators in October 2008, a full three years before the federal indictment was filed. Continue reading Shooting case confirms lack of accountability within Border Patrol →

As reported in A Culture of Cruelty, out of 433 incidents in which emergency medical treatment or medication were needed, only 14 percent received it before being deported. The other 86 percent were deported without receiving needed medical care. Continue reading Denial of medical care and medication →

In FY2010 alone, at least 253 people died attempting to cross the southern Arizona border. Border Patrol practices in the desert routinely increase the risk of death in the desert by dispersing groups with helicopters, impeding search-and-rescue efforts, and vandalizing life-saving resources such as food, water, and blankets. These methods are documented in A Culture of Cruelty.

Ten percent of people interviewed after being held in Border Patrol custody reported being physically abused—including children and teens. These findings and others are found in our report in A Culture of Cruelty. Continue reading Physical abuse →