Border Patrol to investigate Facebook group with racist, sexist posts

Border Patrol on Monday afternoon launched an investigation into the racist and sexist posts uncovered by ProPublica.

While Customs and Border Protection (CBP) did not respond to multiple requests for comment before the ProPublica story went up, the agency on Monday said it has informed its watchdog of the posts and initiated a probe into the situation.

“Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection was made aware of disturbing social media activity hosted on a private Facebook group that may include a number of CBP employees,” Matthew Klein, assistant commissioner of the Office of Professional Responsibility, said in a statement released by CBP.

“CBP immediately informed DHS [Department of Homeland Security] Office of the Inspector General and initiated an investigation,” he said, noting that the conduct reported violates CBP’s standards of conduct.

CBP chief Carla Provost condemned the posts, calling them “completely inappropriate.”

“Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable,” she said in a statement.

The CBP statement came after multiple Democratic lawmakers Monday condemned the agency, saying the posts were rooted in a larger culture of bigotry.