# Secret Border Patrol Facebook Page **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 1, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358 "2019-07-01T18:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/261 "2019-07-05T21:36:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Read your link again. It does say "_The three-year-old group, which has roughly 9,500 members…"_ and “_Members of a secret Facebook group for current and former Border Patrol agents …_” > > But it does **not** say that those 9500 members ARE current and former Border Patrol agents . > > You made that conclusion, not your cite. What amazing revelation or absolution do you find in this distinction? 😕 Do you think it somehow makes things less reprehensible? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/262 "2019-07-05T22:11:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > As we discussed earlier in this thread, DrDeth, we have shown that the union… a body comprised of 90% of all current CBP agents… admits to current, former, and retired employees being in this group. > > Can we consider this point… whether the FB group members contained current agents… resolved with a simple “Yes, the union admitted so”? Thanks! I never doubted the group contained _some_ current agents. What we dont know is: How many current agents How many retired How many fired or quit How many arent agents at all. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/263 "2019-07-05T22:13:27Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > What amazing revelation or absolution do you find in this distinction? 😕 Do you think it somehow makes things less reprehensible? Sure. Let’s say that _not a single current agent_ made any of the reprehensible posts. They were all made by non-agents or agents who had quit or been fired. Doesnt that change things a lot? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/264 "2019-07-05T22:18:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure. Let’s say that _not a single current agent_ made any of the reprehensible posts. They were all made by non-agents or agents who had quit or been fired. > > Doesnt that change things a lot? No. It really doesn’t matter who said them: they’re still shitty, reprehensible things to say. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/265 "2019-07-05T22:21:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure. Let’s say that _not a single current agent_ made any of the reprehensible posts. They were all made by non-agents or agents who had quit or been fired. > > Doesnt that change things a lot? Only if/when “let’s say” is transformed into “here is evidence that”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/266 "2019-07-05T22:38:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Read your link again. It does say "_The three-year-old group, which has roughly 9,500 members…"_ and “_Members of a secret Facebook group for current and former Border Patrol agents …_” > > But it does **not** say that those 9500 members ARE current and former Border Patrol agents . > > You made that conclusion, not your cite. > [@DrDeth](#): > > I never doubted the group contained _some_ current agents. > > What we dont know is: > > How many current agents > > How many retired > > How many fired or quit > > How many arent agents at all. Moving those goalposts can be difficult… ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/267 "2019-07-05T22:59:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Moving those goalposts can be difficult… …as much as I disagree with DrDeth as to the relevance of how many agents were members of the secret Facebook group, DrDeth hasn’t moved his goalposts. The two quotes, in context, are not in conflict. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/268 "2019-07-05T23:07:51Z")
Hmmm. Yeah, guess you’re right. Conceded. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/269 "2019-07-05T23:28:28Z")
What are the odds that we’ll ever find out how many of those 9500 were current or retired border patrol agents? I lump current and former together because I find it unlikely someone would develop such vicious, racist views only _after_ leaving/retiring. And something to consider: whether it was only a few current/former agents or thousands, they damage the reputations of border patrol agents who don’t hold those views. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/270 "2019-07-06T02:11:40Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > What are the odds that we’ll ever find out how many of those 9500 were current or retired border patrol agents? > > I lump current and former together because I find it unlikely someone would develop such vicious, racist views only _after_ leaving/retiring. > > And something to consider: whether it was only a few current/former agents or thousands, they damage the reputations of border patrol agents who don’t hold those views. I concur as to the last. Very true. But having been a fed, I know quite a few wash out in the first year, often becuase of attitude and ethical issues. Those people tend to be very bitter. So, someone could join with nasty racist issues, have his trainer discover them in the field, and be asked to leave during their one year probation period. I know that happens in other agencies. To be fair, the few Border patrol guys I met were upstanding. But the ATF and BP do have a rep of a lot of cowboys and second raters. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/271 "2019-07-06T18:16:57Z")
Remember when Mr. Freeze was the worst ICE-based villain? (Stolen. [Attribution in mouseover text](http://nonadventures.com/2019/06/29/concentration-scamp/)) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358/272 "2019-07-08T05:28:26Z")
Several agents have been punished: > **[Border Patrol agents disciplined over offensive Facebook posts](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/border-patrol-agents-disciplined-offensive-facebook-posts/story?id=64176660)** > > The Department of Homeland Security has disciplined federal agents who posted offensive and sexually degrading content about Central American migrants and Democrats. \*The Department of Homeland Security has disciplined federal agents who posted offensive and sexually degrading content about Central American migrants and Democratic lawmakers on social media, acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan told ABC’s “This Week.” Multiple agents were put on “administrative duties” and others were issued letters warning them to stop the conduct, McAleenan said on Sunday. An internal investigation continues, he added. “The agents will be held accountable if they are CBP employees who did inappropriate things. I don’t think it’s reflective of the men and women we have,” McAleenan said.\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358.md?page=13)