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Border Patrol’s No. 2 official retires in wake of sexual misconduct allegations: report

By
Yaron Steinbuch
Published Feb. 21, 2024, 9:45 a.m. ET

The acting deputy chief of the US Border Patrol has decided to retire after female employees alleged that he pressured them to have sex.

Joel Martinez, who became second in command in January, is being investigated by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility amid allegations by women from his time in Laredo, Texas, two sources told NBC News.

The sources told the outlet that multiple female staffers accused Martinez of making aggressive comments to them about his desire to have sex with them and that they felt pressured to do so.

Joel Martinez, the deputy chief of the US Border Patrol
Joel Martinez, the deputy chief of the US Border Patrol, has reportedly decided to retire amid allegations of sexual misconduct. CBP

“We do not tolerate misconduct within our ranks,” a CBP rep told The Post in an email.

“When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct, we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

“This is the case whether the alleged misconduct occurs on or off duty. Federal privacy laws prohibit discussion of individual cases,” the rep added.

The 31-year CBP veteran was initially suspended over “misconduct allegations,” the Washington Post first reported.

The sources said that in the midst of the investigation, Martinez elected to retire.

By retiring, Martinez would not be subject to punishment from the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, unless it finds reason to make a criminal referral to the Justice Department, NBC News reported.

National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande
Multiple female staffers accused Martinez of inappropriate behavior during his time at the Laredo, Texas, border sector. Getty Images

Border Patrol’s third-ranking official, Tony Barker, left the agency just over a year ago amid allegations that he had pressured an employee to perform sexual favors, according to the report.

He called the accusation “entirely and unequivocally false.”

A CBP employee who accused Barker of misconduct told NBC News on condition of anonymity that the OPR does not do enough to stop bad behavior because employees who face allegations can simply leave the agency without repercussions.

The Border Patrol is one of two main branches of the CBP, the largest federal law enforcement agency in the US with over 60,000 officers, agents and other personnel.

The Post has reached out to the CBP for comment.