Homeland Security chief pledges Border Patrol agents 'will be held accountable’ for using ‘disturbin

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan fired a warning shot at Border Patrol agents Wednesday, saying they ”will be held accountable” if they’re found to have used a secret Facebook forum where racist and sexist vitriol has been shared about migrants and members of Congress.  In his first comments on the matter since the so-called “I’m 10-15” Facebook group was exposed earlier this week, McAleenan said in a tweet that an internal investigation is underway into the “disturbing and inexcusable social media activity that allegedly includes active Border Patrol personnel.”  “These statements are completely unacceptable, especially if made by those sworn to uphold the DHS mission, our values and standards of conduct,” McAleenan posted from his official account. “Any employee found to have compromised the public’s trust in our law enforcement mission will be held accountable. They do not represent the men and women of the Border Patrol or DHS."  McAleenan stopped short of saying that mass firings will follow the investigation — as some congressional Democrats have demanded. A Homeland Security spokesman did not return a request for comment.  Border Patrol brass announced within hours of ProPublica first reporting on the secret Facebook group Monday that the matter would be investigated. McAleenan confirmed that acting Homeland Security Inspector General Jennifer Costello will helm that investigation.  The Facebook forum — whose name is agency code for “aliens in custody” — is populated by some 9,500 current and former U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees.  Leaked posts show members have used to confidential group to make fun of migrants who have died while trying to make it to the U.S. Some members even suggested launching a legal defense fund for Border Patrol agents to attack Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) when they toured a migrant detention center in El Paso earlier this week. Members have also posted photo-shopped images of Ocasio-Cortez engaged in sexual acts.  Democrats were lukewarm about McAleenan’s announcement.  “Details of a secret border patrol workers’ Facebook group paint a picture of a toxic culture at U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “That culture can only begin to be changed by immediately firing and replacing top leadership at the agency with law enforcement professionals who have training and expertise in working with vulnerable populations. Internal investigations aren’t enough.”

‘disturbin