By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Two sisters who were lost in the Texas desert after fleeing Guatemala claim they were sexually assaulted by a Border Patrol officer.
The sisters, age 17 and 19, said they waved down a CBP truck for help. The officer is then accused of placing them to closet in the Presidio, Texas, intake office, where they were forced to strip and were sexually assaulted in July 2016, the Los Angeles Times reports.
On behalf of the sisters, the ACLU of Norther California filed suit Tuesday against Homeland Security.
The sisters now live in Fresno with their mother.
“What happened in that closet has caused me so much pain and sadness,” the older sister said.” I’m telling my story because I don’t want anyone else to go through this. I hope the officer will be honest about what he did and take responsibility for his actions. This is the only way we’ll be able to ensure this never happens again.”
ACLU attorneys said the officer must be held accountable.
“CBP must be held accountable for its officer’s sexual abuse of these vulnerable victims,” said ACLU of Northern California staff attorney Angélica Salceda. “There has been no criminal prosecution against the officer involved. CBP is not above the law, and its abuses of power must not be tolerated.”
