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WASHINGTON — President Trump’s nominee to lead U.S.Customs and Border Protection is facing scrutiny for his role in an investigation into the death of a migrant who was brutally beaten by Border Patrol agents in 2010.Critics allege Rodney Scott participated in a cover-up and is unqualified to lead the agency.
His defenders say he acted appropriately and called him a fine choice to head one of the largest federal agencies with more than 60,000 employees, including the Border Patrol and agents at ports of entry.Rodney Scott, who led the U.S.
Border Patrol until 2021, faced questions about the death from senators Wednesday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing to consider his nomination.“Today’s hearing is to determine whether Rodney Scott possesses that experience, along with the strength of character to be trusted with one of the most essential jobs in government,” said Sen.
Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).“The evidence shows that he falls short.”Scott was acting deputy chief patrol agent of the San Diego Border Patrol Sector when agents preparing to deport Anastasio Hernández Rojas beat and tased him in a walkway at the San Ysidro Port of Entry until he stopped breathing, court records show.
He died in a hospital two days later, leaving behind a wife and five children.Federal officials said Hernández Rojas, 42, fought with the agents attempting to remove him from the country.Last week Wyden sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security seeking documents related to the death and investigation.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s response Tuesday did not include documents.
She called Wyden’s “uninformed” account of Scott’s alleged role in the investigation “infuriating and offensive.” Noem said Scott was not at the scene when the incident occurred, had limited involvement with an internal investigative team that reviewed the case, and didn’t impede external investigations or conceal facts.“No less than seven local and federa...