Officials from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Monday that they have launched an investigation into 62 current employees and eight former employees for their involvement in a Facebook group called “I’m 10-15.”
The online group, named for the Customs and Border Protection code for “aliens in custody,” was meant as a community for border patrol workers to post “funny, serious, and just work related” content.
The 9,500-members group came under fire at the beginning of July when content from the message board showed members questioning the validity of a photo of deceased immigrants. Another post shared a story about a teen migrant who had died in Customs and Border Protection custody with several apathetic comments, including a shrugging Elmo GIF saying, “oh well.”
Another post made fun of Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Veronica Escobar of Texas, saying, “Let’s start a go fund me for one CTX agent brave enough to throw a 10-15 burrito at one of these bitches. Whoever does it takes the pot of $$$.” Other doctored, graphic images of Ocasio-Cortez were also posted to the group.
In response to the revelation of the “I’m 10-15” Facebook activity, Customs and Border Protection Chief Carla Provost said, “These posts are completely inappropriate and contrary to the honor and integrity I see—and expect—from our agents day in and day out. Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable.”
The Department of Homeland Security declined to investigate the matter, which is now being done internally. Matthew Klein, assistant commissioner of Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility said, “Messages posted on a private page that are discriminatory or harassing are not protected and violate standards of conduct.” His investigation will look into the “I’m 10-15” group as well as one other closed group. Klein further said, “To be clear, the expectations of professional conduct don’t end at the end of a shift.”
