The Border Patrol is looking for a temporary hire to boost diversity in its upper ranks following allegations that Hispanic and female employees were being discriminated against for promotions.
In mid-August, the 19,000-employee government organization began internally circulating a job listing for an agent to work on a detailed assignment for six months at the national headquarters in Washington, according to a copy of the memo obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“This initiative serves to address gaps in [Border Patrol] diversity, hiring, and promotional practices. In addition, the initiative will advance the efforts in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, enhancing resiliency, and recognizing professional and personal talent in the USBP ranks,” the listing stated.
In May, the Washington Examiner reported that the Border Patrol had named new leadership at 10 of its two dozen regional offices, marking the first large group of promotions since President Joe Biden took office in January. But while more than half of all Border Patrol agents are Hispanic, just two of the 10 people promoted were not white. Less than 20% of the Border Patrol’s field leadership nationwide is Hispanic.
A senior border official had leaked the list out of concern that the agency’s senior leadership wasn’t taking diversity seriously.
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Then-Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott pushed back in an interview, explaining that the organization’s top several leaders in Washington were not white, including the second and third in command. But others, including an anonymous senior border official, said being aware of the need for diversity at the very top of the organization does not equate to equal opportunity at all levels of management.
“Just the optics of senior leadership ranks don’t pass the smell test,” the senior official wrote in an email this week.
The Border Patrol’s new push for someone to manage diversity temporarily among those promoted and hired indicated the agency is “admitting there is a problem” that needed to be fixed.
Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, did not answer questions about the job posting or why the position is temporary and not permanent.
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The Border Patrol is preparing an additional round of promotions similar to those in May. The majority of agents expected to be promoted to regional leadership roles are white, the anonymous official said.
