February 2024
borderoversight.org

... The Freedom of Information Act revealed the widespread use of inappropriate language among Border Patrol officials, prompting discussions of banning the use of anti-migrant slurs. HuffPost revealed internal Border Patrol emails and text messages in which agents, across ranks and regions, used the slur "tonk" to refer to migrants, along with other derogatory language.

This is not the first instance of derogatory language within the agency. Over 23 years ago, a US Border Patrol official warned that slurs against people crossing the border would not be tolerated. In 2019, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the parent agency of Border Patrol, issued guidance explicitly stating that "the term tonk is not appropriate" due to its derogatory connotation.

Despite these warnings, Border Patrol agents routinely refer to migrants as "tonks," a term reportedly derived from the sound their utility flashlights make when hitting a migrant's head. Although the origin of the word is unclear, with some suggesting it is an acronym for "Traveler, Origin Not Known" or "Traveler Outside Native Country," it continues to carry racist implications, particularly within law enforcement circles.

Some examples of the language used within email chains include:

- - - Border Patrol employees described migrants not just as "tonks" but also as "an influx of rats" from "whatamala, el salvado, and hondodas."

- - - Border Patrol personnel mocked a co-worker for "marrying a tonk" because "he can't find a legal chick here WOW."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Protection stated, "The use of any derogatory language towards others is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. No one feels that more than those who wear the uniform," adding that any alleged misconduct would be referred to CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility, from which criminal or administrative investigations could arise. ...