UTEP ‘research fellow’ is ex-Border Patrol official accused of sexual impropriety

El Paso Matters reports that a former Border Patrol official reportedly facing allegations of sexual improprieties has been listed recently as a research fellow on the University of Texas at El Paso’s website.  "UTEP officials said the former official, Tony Barker, was improperly listed as a researcher for the university by a program director who also is a former Border Patrol official."

I found interesting the research unit on the UTEP campus focuses in part on border enforcement and securing federal homeland security grants.  Victor Manjarrez Jr., the director of UTEP’s Center for Law and Human Behavior, admitted to listing the officer as a research fellow without approval.  Manjarrez's bio on the website states that he

"served for more than 20 years in the United States Border Patrol and filled key operational roles both in the field and at Headquarters over the course of his extensive homeland security career. Many of his innovative border security methods and ideas are still the basic cornerstones for the U.S. Border Patrol that are still being utilized today. Chief Manjarrez’ skills continue to be recognized by the Department of Homeland Security in the area of developing complex, efficient, and comprehensive border security programs. . . . He has received more than $2 million research funding from federal grants as a principal or co-principal investigator. His primary area of study is the homeland security enterprise with research topics that include: professional development, organizational system analysis, border security system assessments, and issues related to legitimate trade and travel."

According to El Paso Matters, the Center for Law and Human Behavior "was founded in 2010 with an original focus on detainee interrogation research, according to a video Manjarrez posted last year.” (bold added).  "Detainee interrogation research"? Hmmmmmmm.

Hat tip to Cappy White.

KJ