A recently released U.S. Border Patrol policy reviewed by Breitbart Texas prohibits officers in managerial or supervisory positions from forming or becoming involved in romantic relationships with lower-ranking officers without an approved waiver, in some cases issued by the agency’s top official, U.S. Border Patrol Commissioner Jason Owens.
The new policy, which was finalized in early June, has angered rank-and-file officers who see ethical lapses by a few senior CBP officials as a distraction from the real border security challenges they face on the ground, according to sources within CBP who provided a copy of the policy to Breitbart Texas.
Sources told Breitbart Texas that the issues that prompted the creation of the policy attached below have less to do with misconduct committed by line managers or subordinates and entirely to do with a failure of leadership from the highest levels of management.
“This isn’t a field issue, they’re just too busy,” the source said. “The number two in the Border Patrol chain of command in Washington suddenly resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. Our school head has also been fired amid allegations of misconduct.”
“Now we have to impose this nonsense on frontline staff who are exhausted after three years of border control being hamstrung?” the source stressed.
Part of the policy explains the motivation and purpose of the policy by vaguely addressing a history of issues related to inappropriate relationships and sexual conduct between managers, supervisors and subordinates.
Incidents over the past few years have highlighted the need to address problematic romantic or sexual relationships or encounters in the workplace. This policy sets clear expectations regarding appropriate behavior, particularly between supervisors and subordinates, and explicitly addresses conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest when a romantic or sexual relationship or encounter involves, or involves, preferential treatment through the inappropriate use of that relationship for personal gain.
Sources said the series of events over the past few years that led to the issuance of the policy were widely publicized leadership failures that led to the sudden resignations, retirements and firings of senior executives who faced serious allegations of misconduct.
January 2023, NBC News report The report covered the sudden resignation of Senior Border Patrol Agent Tony Barker, who serves as the Border Patrol’s acting director of Law Enforcement Activities. Sources told NBC that female agents in the agency had been in a consensual relationship with Barker and that he retaliated against them when they tried to end it. Barker allegedly threatened to tell others that they had made an illegal agreement if they did not engage in sexual activity.
In February 2024, Joel Martinez, the patrol chief for the Laredo Sector in Texas, suddenly resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct by subordinates. At the time of his departure, Martinez was serving as acting patrol chief, reporting directly to Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens.
Martinez’s retirement was the first report By The Washington PostA source familiar with the allegations against Martinez later told NBC News: report The female employees alleged that Martinez made aggressive statements about wanting to have sex with them and pressured them into having sex.
At the time Martinez resigned, the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing rank-and-file Border Patrol officers, statement He condemned the kind of behavior Martinez is accused of, saying, “I strongly condemn and am outraged by the reports of sexual harassment and misconduct that have emerged during this ongoing investigation. I condemn these coercive actions in the strongest terms and stand with the victims who have had to suffer this unacceptable abuse of power.”
CBP responded to the firing of USBP Academy Director Landrum for suspected or possible misconduct: pic.twitter.com/xKPSR4DYn2
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) February 10, 2024
A source at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who was not authorized to speak to the media, told Breitbart Texas that the agency suspended Ryan Landrum, a patrol lead agent at its training academy, in February 2024 for alleged misconduct. The nature of the allegations was not disclosed, but in response to an inquiry posted by Ali Bradley on X about Landrum’s suspension, the agency responded:
We do not tolerate misconduct in our company. If we become aware of suspected or possible misconduct, we will promptly refer you to an investigation and will cooperate fully with any criminal or government investigation. This is true whether the suspected misconduct occurred on or off the job. Federal privacy laws prohibit us from discussing individual cases.
The policy is effective immediately upon receipt by the employee. According to the policy, engaging in any of the prohibited romantic or sexual relationships outlined in the policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Randy Clark Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Division, where he led operations for nine Border Patrol stations in the Del Rio Sector, Texas. Follow him on Twitter: @RandyClarkBBTX.
US Border Patrol Encounter Policy
