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US border agency: 155 force cases need more review

By WTOP Staff

ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The agency that oversees the U.S. Border Patrol said Friday that an initial review of cases involving use of force and alleged misconduct by agents and inspectors found 155 that merit further investigation.

Mark Morgan, interim head of Customs and Border Protection’s internal affairs office, said there was no timeline to complete the review and Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske had not decided what information to release on individual cases. One case resulted in a death.

Morgan, an acting assistant commissioner, is a longtime FBI official who was named to the job in June amid widespread criticism that Border Patrol agents use excessive force and that CBP is slow to investigate and lacks transparency.

CBP examined 860 cases since 2009, including most of the 67 involving deadly force that are addressed in a highly critical, CBP-commissioned report released in May. That report, by the Police Executive Research Forum, said some agents were suspected of intentionally placing themselves in the escape route of fleeing vehicles to create justification to fire weapons and that some shootings of rock throwers were questionable, especially when attackers hurled projectiles from across the border in Mexico.

CBP also reviewed cases in a report by the American Immigration Council that details a wide range of alleged abuses, from agents kicking a pregnant woman who later miscarried, to knocking someone’s head against a rock.

Reasons for further investigation may include questions about whether a case could have been handled differently, perhaps by not standing in the way of a fleeing vehicle, abandoning a high-speed pursuit or using a nonlethal weapon, Morgan told reporters in Washington.

Morgan acknowledged criticism of the slow pace of investigations, blaming a long-standing arrangement within the Department of Homeland Security that requires another agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to investigate CBP employees for possible criminal misconduct before CBP gets its turn.

Morgan said CBP won’t investigate wrongdoing that doesn’t rise to the level of a crime until all federal, state and local authorities complete criminal investigations. CBP has not yet reviewed 11 cases in the Police Executive Research Forum report because they are still under criminal investigation and it doesn’t want to influence the outcome.

“This has resulted in very unintended consequences, but nevertheless consequences, in terms of efficiency, timeliness and transparency — not quality,” he said.

Morgan replaced James Tomsheck, who has recently given interviews saying he was a scapegoat and that some deaths are highly suspect. It is unclear how long Morgan will stay.

“I’ve got no legacy mindset,” Morgan said. “I’ve got no skin in the territorialism within CBP. I’m an outside guy coming in.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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