In an effort to counter attacks from the mainstream media and politicians who have recently called to abolish ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have begun a Twitter campaign to share stories of bravery carried out by their employees.
DHS tweeted Monday: “Today, DHS, @CBP, and @ICEgov will be sharing stories of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day with the sole objective of protecting our nation. Make sure to follow to see stories that have not been widely reported.”
Today, DHS, @CBP, and @ICEgov will be sharing stories of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day with the sole objective of protecting our nation. Make sure to follow to see stories that have not been widely reported.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 2, 2018
The tweet received more than 32,000 likes, and was retweeted by President Trump.
All three agencies shared stories all throughout Monday, and each agency retweeted one another’s stories.
The first of the stories featured CBP Officers Mohammed Sajib and Luis Castineiras, who worked together to save the life of a woman who stopped breathing at the Philidelphia International Airport.
Using CPR and a nearby defibrillator device, the officers worked on the woman until she began breathing on her own. She was later treated and released at a local hospital.
A woman was in distress, not breathing, at the bottom of an escalator at @PHLAirport. #CBP Officers responded. Officer Sajib grabbed an AED, while Officer Castineiras began CPR. Together they saved her life. https://t.co/j5iSUaPDYE pic.twitter.com/fz1WRWNvub
— CBP (@CBP) June 30, 2018
Another story featured Assistant Field Office Director Brian McShane of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division.
McShane responded to the scene of a small plane crash in suburban Philadelphia. Using tools from his ICE-issued First Aid kit, McShane was able to free the pilot from a seatbelt that caused strangulation and had stopped the pilot’s breathing.
The pilot made a full recovery due to McShane’s quick response.
ICE ERO officers go beyond the call of duty to help others. In Sept 2017, Asst. Field Office Director Brian McShane was one of the first people to arrive on the scene of a plane crash in suburban Philadelphia. His quick actions helped save the pilot’s life https://t.co/mmt6zOOE0H pic.twitter.com/bUrY8pVfCP
— ICE (@ICEgov) July 2, 2018
CBP Officer Johnny Grays was featured for his act of saving a child who fell into the St. Clair River at the Algonac Port of Entry in Michigan.
Grays acted quickly to save the child who was clinging to a seawall and could not feel his extremities in the harsh cold temperatures.
CBP Officer Grays was on duty at the Algonac Port of Entry when he was alerted to a child in distress. His quick response allowed him to rescue a child who had fallen into the cold St. Clair River pic.twitter.com/0PgTAtWjip
— CBP (@CBP) May 9, 2018
Another story featured a joint effort between CBP Air and Marine Operations and U.S. Border Patrol agents in the remote Baboquivari Mountains located southwest of Tuscon, Arizona.
Three undocumented immigrants called 911 for help after finding themselves stranded on the side of a cliff. Agents used a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to perform an aerial rescue. Two of the men sustained injuries and were treated at local hospitals.
#AMO and #USBP agents rescued 3 men in the mountains outside of Tucson after they called 9-1-1 for help. In remote border areas, border security operations often become humanitarian rescue missions for the men and women of #CBP. https://t.co/oOxsAUtSXc pic.twitter.com/ykkRDs3vzb
— CBP (@CBP) July 2, 2018
Other stories included significant drug busts and weapons seizures, reducing the flow of “weapons, drugs and victims” across borders, and even saving smuggled immigrants from deadly conditions inside trucks.
ICE also highlighted their efforts in providing aid to victims of Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria in 2017.
CBP’s Florida division tweeted a photo collage of additional stories of bravery.
“Working tirelessly to secure our borders every day,” they said.
🇺🇸PROTECTING THE HOMELAND – KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE🚔
We are U.S. Customs and Border Protection—America’s Frontline.
Working tirelessly to secure our borders every day.
✈️Air and Marine Operations🚤U.S. Border Patrol🚓Office of Field Operations
📸#CBP Daily Snapshot⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z2RJMaifr2— CBP Florida (@CBPFlorida) July 2, 2018
DHS said: “Protecting our country is what we expect our law enforcement community to do every day, and the brave men and women of @CBP and @ICEgov are no different. These selfless Americans go to work to protect their neighbors and their country.”
Protecting our country is what we expect our law enforcement community to do every day, and the brave men and women of @CBP and @ICEgov are no different. These selfless Americans go to work to protect their neighbors and their country.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 2, 2018
DHS also noted that the agencies face dangerous situations and work together in an effort for stronger borders and “a safer U.S.”
DHS added: “We should all be grateful for their hard work and dedication to keeping both our borders and our communities safe.”
