An Iowa Boy Scout troop leader says that a federal border patrol agent pointed a loaded gun at one of his scouts after the troop was stopped for taking a picture of an officer working the border entry point.
Troop No. 111’s leader, Jim Fox, says the scout took a picture of the border patrol agent as they were re-entering the US while on a three-week trip through Canada and Alaska.
“The agent immediately confiscated his camera, informed him he would be arrested, and fined possibly $10,000 and 10 years in prison,” said Fox.
Attorney Angela Campbell told Des Moines’ KCCI that the officer’s threat of the $10,000 fine and prison time were inaccurate.
“There are some border patrol policies that are in question as to whether or not is a crime to take pictures, and where it would be a crime to take pictures,” said Campbell.
As the the agents were searching the troop’s van, another of the scouts went to remove luggage from the roof for the officers to look through. When he did, “he hears a snap of a holster, turns around, and here’s this agent, both hands on a loaded pistol, pointing at the young man’s head,” Fox said.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told KCCI that the picture was taken at a point of entry, federal property on which pictures are not allowed, and confirmed that the camera was confiscated and every Boy Scout was searched.
CBP released a statement to KCCI yesterday that said they reviewed the troop’s inspection, including video footage which indicated that the officer did not un-holster his weapon. They have, however, reached out to the troop for more information and said that the video footage has been referred to CBP Internal Affairs for further review.
Fox said he is outraged at the border patrol’s excessive use of force towards the children, especially when he thinks about the people coming through America’s southern border.
Watch KCCI’s footage below.
