Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Are car accidents the most common cause of death in the line of duty for Border Protection agents?
Friday, November 6, 2020
By Allegra Taylor
Copy link
Copy featured image
YES
Car accidents accounted for 17 of 35 deaths of on-duty border patrol agents between 2003 and 2019, according to the agency's own data.
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, reviewed reports since the 2003 founding of the Customs and Border Protection agency as part of the newly-created Department of Homeland Security. Other job-related accidents, such as health-related accidents and drownings, were responsible for another third of fatalities. Six deaths resulted from assault or murder, with the most recent instance in 2017.
Since the beginning of 2020, 12 agents have died in the line of duty. All of the on-duty deaths in 2020 were the result of COVID-19 or complications from the disease, except for one heat-related death.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
FACT BRIEF BY
