ACLU-NM and ACLU-TX Publish Policy Brief of CBP’s Revised Vehicle Pursuit Policy

ALBUQUERQUE – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico today published 'Inherent Risks:’ Policy Analysis and Recommendations on Revised CBP Vehicle Pursuit Policy, produced in collaboration with the ACLU of Texas. The brief analyzes U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) revised vehicle pursuit policy, which was announced earlier this year and originally intended to go into effect in May, with implementation delayed to June.

High-speed pursuits by Border Patrol agents have resulted in numerous tragic deaths and severe injuries in our communities, including a pursuit in March in southwestern New Mexico that ended with one death and at least four injured.

“While we welcome the revisions to CBP’s vehicle pursuit policy as a significant improvement and an important step forward for our border communities, we know that robust training and oversight will be essential to ensure compliance with this new policy,” ACLU of New Mexico Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Sheff wrote in the policy brief. “We will continue to seek accountability for actions by CBP officers and agents that cause harm in our communities.”

The policy brief includes an analysis of key changes in the revised CBP policy, including a revised review structure and a prohibition on the use of “pursuit immobilization techniques” (PIT) maneuvers. It also includes recommendations and questions that still remain about how the revised policy will be implemented, to help ensure internal compliance and public transparency.

Click here to download the policy brief.