Internal records obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests reveal that employees and contractors at the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been accused of repeatedly abusing sensitive government law enforcement databases for personal reasons, including stalking ex-partners, crushes, and colleagues. These revelations, disclosed by an investigation reported by WIRED, highlight hundreds of allegations spanning more than a decade involving unauthorized queries and data misuse.
What Happened
The records, covering the years 2009 through 2022 and sourced from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General, document widespread misuse of internal surveillance and investigative tools by CBP personnel. The allegations include employees accessing data to track romantic interests, monitor family members, harass coworkers, and in some cases, share intelligence with suspected smugglers and drug-trafficking groups. For example, one case involved an officer who queried trusted-traveler application data to ask individuals out, while another involved an employee allegedly providing border-crossing data to parties involved in personal disputes.
Key Facts
Analysis of nearly 300 data misuse entries showed 138 were referred for managerial review, 78 cases led to criminal investigations by the Office of Professional Responsibility, and 43 were logged as “Information Only,” meaning no formal investigation was opened. Six incidents explicitly involved employees querying their own data, a behavior flagged by CBP as an early indicator of potential corruption. Significant cases included a 2016 allegation of a CBP worker feeding information to drug traffickers and a 2021 case accusing a Border Patrol agent of advising smugglers on border crossing lanes.
Many investigations concluded without public disclosure of outcomes, and in 21 cases information was withheld citing exemptions for active law enforcement proceedings.
What This Means
This extensive pattern of data abuse within CBP exposes troubling vulnerabilities in the management of powerful surveillance tools intended for national security. Not only does it illustrate how sensitive personal information—including travel histories, location data, and biometric records—can be exploited for harassment or personal benefit, but it also raises concerns about potential compromises to law enforcement integrity and public trust.
For the general public, this translates into heightened risks of invasive government surveillance misused beyond legal and ethical boundaries. It exemplifies how internal controls and oversight may be insufficient to prevent or swiftly address such misconduct. Furthermore, as DHS expands its surveillance capabilities through facial recognition technologies, commercial location data, and mobile phone extraction tools, the scope for future misuse grows if accountability measures remain weak.
Moreover, these abuses could have grave consequences if data is shared with criminal actors, potentially undermining border security efforts. The incidents underscore the need for rigorous monitoring, transparent investigations, and strict enforcement of privacy policies governing sensitive government databases.
Background
The dataset reflects CBP’s longstanding access to extensive databases such as the Enforcement Integrated Database, TECS, and the Central Index System, which contain biometric, travel, and law enforcement information on millions of individuals. Additionally, new tools like DHS’s Mobile Fortify facial-recognition application and commercial aggregated location data have increased officials’ data visibility. Previous reports, including a 2023 DHS Inspector General review, have raised concerns about the use of commercial location telemetry without adequate privacy safeguards or departmental policies.
What Remains Unclear
Many cases have missing or redacted resolution details, making it difficult to confirm how often allegations were substantiated or whether disciplinary actions were taken. The full extent of data breach impact and whether all affected individuals have been notified remains unknown. Official sources have not released information on the identity of perpetrators in several serious allegations, nor the current status of ongoing investigations.
What Comes Next
CBP has emphasized its commitment to investigating misconduct and imposing disciplinary measures, though details on new measures to strengthen internal controls were not disclosed. The continued public scrutiny following these FOIA revelations may prompt DHS and CBP to review and tighten their data access protocols and oversight mechanisms to prevent further abuse.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following sources:
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