CBP Releases Use of Force Recommendations

(Press Release) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection released today the Use of Force Recommendations from the CBP National Use of Force Review Board (NUFRB) on cases of use of force that are posted on CBP.gov. These recommendations relate to improvements and updates in policy, training, tactics, and equipment, and are being shared as part of CBP’s continued efforts toward transparency.

In addition to the recommendations update, five additional use of force cases have been added to the Use of Force Case Summaries webpage.

CBP has taken steps over the past five years to increase our accountability and transparency with respect to use of force incidents.  Building upon the investigative work of the CBP Use of Force Incident Team (UFIT) process, the NUFRB meets regularly to review and provide recommendations following significant use of force incident investigations.

NUFRB members include senior U.S. government personnel from inside and outside of CBP to include representatives from CBP’s Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations, Laboratories and Scientific Services Directorate, and Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility; U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.  Additional CBP support for the NUFRB process comes from the Office of Professional Responsibility, Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Public Affairs.

In FY2017, CBP law enforcement personnel reported 996 uses of force and 847 assaults, increases of 2 percent and 45 percent, respectively, over FY 2016. Firearm-related uses of force have decreased by 71 percent over the last six years, with a 35 percent decrease in FY17 over FY16.