Press Release

House Passes Rep. Cuellar’s Initiative to Ensure Professionalism, Respect at Border

Congressman successfully added language to Department of Homeland Security funding bill that ensures Border Patrol officers conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism

Washington, March 4, 2015 | Kirsten Hartman ((202) 225-1641)
The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed a Homeland Security funding bill, which included specific language added by Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28). Cuellar’s additions include a call for a review of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer training to ensure professionalism, in addition to other provisions.

 

“The inclusion of this language is extremely important to Texans along the border, and it is a huge benefit to the region that it was included in this important funding bill,” Congressman Cuellar said. “Residents and people traveling throughout my district interact with agents from Customs and Border Protection on a regular basis and it’s important that those officers—who I have the upmost respect for—establish the highest standard of professionalism to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect.”

 

The language Cuellar added requires the Commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to review training manuals and coursework as well as incident reporting practices within the agency. The focus of this language is to make sure that customs and border patrol officials are trained to interact respectfully with those crossing the border. Furthermore, the addition to the bill asks that CBP report to the Committee on their findings of their review within 60 days.

 

This is just the latest in Cuellar’s continued advocacy for professionalism along the border, in February, Cuellar announced a new ‘PRIDE’ initiative with the Director of Field Operations for CBP, David Higgerson, and the Laredo Port Director, Joseph Misenhelter, aimed at re-invigorating professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence (PRIDE) throughout the CBP workforce at South Texas ports of entry.