Agencies say they work to be humane, professional

By Jonathon Shacat
Wick News Service
Published/Last Modified on Saturday, December 15, 2007 3:08 PM MST


BISBEE — Several law enforcement agencies have responded to a report released earlier this week by Border Action Network documenting human rights and civil rights violations.


The report documented 116 specific possible violations of domestic or international law from September until December in Sierra Vista, Douglas, Naco, Tucson, Sahuarita, Nogales, Phoenix, Yuma, Prescott and Cottonwood.

About 66 percent of the abuses involved law enforcement, including local police departments, sheriff’s offices, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection.

Vincent Picard, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said ICE officers receive extensive training on the law and appropriate law enforcement practices.

“ICE agents and officers treat those they interact with humanely and professionally, and there is an effective process for people to file complaints if they allege they have been mistreated or suffered abuse at the hands of ICE personnel,” he said.

Brian D. Levin, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said the agency has four primary ways to receive complaints and compliments, including passenger service representatives, comment cards, a customer service center and a telephone or verbal complaint program.

“CBP has a very transparent traveler complaint process. For example, everyone that is stopped for inspection is given the opportunity to speak to an on-site supervisor if they wish,” Levin said.

“They are also given cards with information needed to submit a complaint in writing to either the port of entry or to our headquarters in Washington, D.C., if they wish to do so after they leave the port,” he added.

Dove Haber, spokeswoman for the Border Patrol, said the Tucson sector experiences “a huge amount of crossings.” The agency has even taken steps to mitigate dangers to crossers, she said.

Border Patrol officials work a “difficult job in a difficult environment” and they do “the best they can,” Haber added.

“Every allegation that ever comes about as a result of our duties in terms of border enforcement is investigated by an outside agency, not by the Border Patrol investigating itself,” she said.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    MM wrote on Dec 17, 2007 10:09 AM:

    " I believe present Border Patrol, is a bit more concern and they seem to be doing the best they can, but as allways as my Father said, we are all just visiting here and make the best of it by being humane and understanding why other less fortunate do what they can to survive, we might not agree and there is the legal way, but some people here and there take risks in hopes that they make a better life for themselves..and Family I think we have all been there and taken a risk . "

    sunizona wrote on Dec 15, 2007 3:43 PM:

    " You can sure complain about the rights of illegals but what of all the rights they have done against legal citizens of USA. like killing cattle and destroying fences breaking and entering killing people on the highway with there over loaded vans & trucks etc. etc. etc. ???????? "

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