Federal Agents Allegedly Strip Search, Sexually Assault New Mexico Woman [Video]
Federal agents in New Mexico allegedly strip searched a woman and then proceeded to sexually abuse her. The victim does not wish to be identified because she believes she is a victim of sexual assault.
It all started when the New Mexico woman crossed the border from Juarez, Mexico into El Paso via a Port of Entry. A dog had alerted agents to the woman and they looked into it. However, the investigation had allegedly gone too far.
They had done this under the suspicion that she had been carrying drugs, though it was revealed later that there were no drugs on or in her.
The federal agents had allegedly strip searched the New Mexico woman, and then asked her to undress and spread out her genitalia. Afterward, they allegedly inserted their fingers into her private parts and found nothing. Apparently, this wasn’t conclusive enough, as they soon moved the woman to the University Medical Center of El Paso for further investigation.
Laura Schaur Ives, Legal Director for the New Mexico Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, stated that the agents involved in the procedure never had a warrant.
You may want to avoid New Mexico for a while unless you enjoy being probed http://t.co/GSegExxlCf
— MyPupDaisy (@MyPupDaisy) November 8, 2013
Laura Schaur Ives relayed the woman’s report, “First, medical staff observed her making a [bowel] movement and no drugs were found at that point. They then took an X-ray, but it did not reveal any contraband. They then did a cavity search and they probed her vagina and her anus, they described in the medical records as bi-manual – two handed. Finally, they did a cat scan. Again, they found nothing.”
Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson Doug Mosier responded to the allegations about the federal agents:
“CBP cannot verify information relative to these ACLU allegations since we have not seen a copy of the report, nor have we been provided necessary details in order to investigate. CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off-duty.”
Apparently this isn’t the first time that federal agents in New Mexico allegedly held a search for drugs which turned into full-on sexual assault. Two other cases are still pending.
If these allegations are true, what does this say about the integrity of federal agents at New Mexico Border Patrol stations?
