United States v. Delgado: Excessive Force and Falsified Records

This episode discusses a federal appellate court opinion affirming the criminal convictions of Miguel Angel Delgado, Jr., a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. The court determined that there was sufficient evidence to prove Delgado violated the civil rights of two individuals through the use of excessive force during separate border encounters. The records detail how Delgado physically assaulted travelers who were not resisting and subsequently falsified official reports to conceal his misconduct. Testimony from expert witnesses and supervisors highlighted that his aggressive actions were objectively unreasonable and directly contradicted his professional training. Ultimately, the court upheld his 24-month prison sentence, rejecting his challenge to the trial's verdict.