Border Patrol agents in Rio Grande Valley being told not to talk to media

6/14/2014

WASHINGTON (AP) --  Border Patrol agents trying to control an increasing flood of unaccompanied child immigrants along the border in southern Texas are being warned against a new threat: reporters.

Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Eligio "Lee" Pena warned more than 3,000 agents based in the Rio Grande Valley that reporters looking for information on what President Barack Obama has described as a humanitarian crisis, quote, "may try to disguise themselves."

 In an email sent to agents, Pena said agents should not speak to reporters, on or off duty, without permission.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske told the AP that he was not aware of the email but that he is generally not a fan of telling people not to talk.