The past year has brought many changes to CBP on use of force, transparency, and accountability. The steps we have taken over the past year – implementing policy changes, revamping our training, standing up a new review process, and expediting the disclosure of basic incident information to the public – are critical to achieving our mission and ensuring the trust of the American people.
I have always been committed to making our policies and processes open and more transparent to the people we serve. Today, I am releasing data about CBP’s use of force, broken down by fiscal year. The data, which reflect the application of use of force by U.S. Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, and air interdiction agents, show a 26 percent reduction in the number of use of force incidents. This reduction is especially significant, considering that assaults against agents and officers have essentially remained steady.
I am encouraged by the progress and dedication that CBP officers and agents have shown this year. However, there is always more that can be done, and we remain committed to strengthening our agency.