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LULAC Calls For White House Review Into Report Of Nearly All White U.S. Customs And Border Patrol Sector Chiefs

Nation's Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Published Investigation Alleges Only One Hispanic Chief Despite Latino Rank-and-File Majority

Washington, DC - Domingo Garcia, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), is requesting the White House provide the latest leadership staffing data for men and women serving as chiefs in the border agency's 22 sector operations. An investigation by the Washington Examiner, a newspaper with a self-described "conservative worldview," reports that while the CBP force is now majority Latino, only one Hispanic currently holds the title of Sector Chief. Gloria Chavez is a 27-year veteran of the agency who leads the El Paso operation, which covers 254 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.

"LULAC finds these alleged statistics very troubling and questions why someone had to leak the information before the American people can learn about this obvious institutionalized racism," says Garcia. "Courageous border patrol agents who help to protect our borders from cartels and human smugglers deserve respect and equal opportunities to be entrusted the title of chief. This administration must ensure that our customs and border patrol chiefs and upper management reflect the diversity of its rank-and-file and our country. Not only should an agency hire a workforce reflective of the communities they serve, but its leadership in those regions should reflect the same," he adds.

According to one published report, more than 50% of CBP agents are Latino. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol service is a federal agency required to abide by federal labor guidelines set by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Sadly, the latest reports underscore chronic discrimination in promoting Latinos into leadership positions within the agency

Lydia Guzman, LULAC national immigration chair, says historically, the agency has had the image of always being led by a Caucasian male wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses. "This is not surprising, and the imbalance in the leadership numbers only c.irms why we have the situations of mistreatment and abuse of arriving refugees along the southern border that we do," she says. "Oh sure, the agency can say, we don't have more Hispanic chiefs because they refuse to relocate to the northern United States or coastal regions. Well, why not move the other people to areas that they reflect? It is only logical that this would produce far better optics and results for an agency trying to serve our country's needs. Instead, we lack Hispanic leadership where and when we need it most. This is not smart and only affirms a culture of discrimination," said Guzman.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/