New open records documents reveals CBP’s direct role in policing 2020 racial protests

October 10th, 2023

Crowds line up in front of Atlanta police during a demonstration Monday, June 1, 2020, in Atlanta over the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after being restrained by Minneapolis police.

John Bazemore / Associated Press

The police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks sparked global protests. Data suggests there were thousands of arrests in more than a dozen cities.

In some states, including Georgia, National Guard units were even deployed.

Now, new open records documents suggest that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had a direct role in over-policing racial justice protests in summer 2020.

On Tuesday’s edition of WABE’s “Closer Look,” show host Rose Scott talked with Emily Creighton, the legal director at the American Immigration Council, and Tsion Gurmu, legal director at Black Alliance for Just Immigration. The guests discussed the new open records documents, CBP’s jurisdiction and deployment, and the questions they had about CBP’s authority.

“They encouraged CBP officers to take a more aggressive and proactive approach,” said Creighton. “This was not the authority under which they were designated to be there. They were there pursuant to Trump’s executive order at the time.”