Should the U.S. Border Patrol Chief Resign Over a Racist CBP Facebook Group?

What’s the story?

• 33 House Democrats are demanding that U.S. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost resign over her participation in a secret Facebook group where CBP agents posted racist, misogynistic, and violent material.

• In their letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, the lawmakers charge that Provost "has lost the public's confidence that she can faithfully execute the responsibilities of her position without bias or prejudice."
• When ProPublica first broke the story of the group’s existence, Provost expressed surprise and promised that employees who’d participated would be held accountable. As the letter points out, “conspicuously absent from her statement was an admission that she had been a member of the Facebook group for months."
• The lawmakers argue that the CBP chief’s “responsibility [is] to discipline employees who fall under her agency's auspices, not participate in conduct unbecoming of her office.” They are calling on McAleenan "to follow Ms. Provost's own promise of accountability, by immediately seeking her resignation."
• CBP policies bar employees from making “abusive, derisive, profane, or harassing statements or gestures” about any person or group on private or public social media.
•  The House oversight committee on Wednesday asked for documents connected to the Facebook scandal.

What do you think?

Would you add your signature to the letter calling for Provost’s resignation? Take action above, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman