Sonya Winterberg

Border Patrol agents are trained extremely well to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and innocent third parties. When a supposed “peaceful” protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to severe consequences and repercussions. We have pleaded with and warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors. They have encouraged these reckless confrontations and attacks on our agents and officers who are performing their lawful duties and enforcing the laws that Congress has put on the books. The fake and dishonest media and the shameless politicians should be held accountable for willfully misleading the public and enticing these protesters and agitators. We have full confidence that when more facts are revealed, our agents and officers will be shown to have utilized justifiable force in eliminating the threat.

MORE on the SDF-Syrian Government Ceasefire: SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi may not be able to secure support from other SDF leaders for Syrian President Ahmed al Shara’s terms, even if the ceasefire is extended to allow him more time to consult with SDF leadership. CTP-ISW previously assessed on January 21 that the most likely course of action entails Abdi and a subset of more moderate SDF leaders agreeing to Shara’s terms while some hardline SDF leaders refuse to capitulate and continue to fight. The ceasefire is facilitating US forces’ transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq and enabling Syrian government forces to secure detention facilities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps that house ISIS supporters. Both the SDF and Syrian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continue to send reinforcements to contact lines in Hasakah Province despite indications that the ceasefire could be extended beyond January 24. Syrian Government Forces near Kobani: The Syrian government has deployed at least three Aleppo-based Syrian divisions along Kobani frontlines that contain militias or fighters that have participated in Turkish-backed offensives targeting the People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and, in some cases, committed human rights abuses against Kurdish civilians. Reports of atrocities and summary executions in northeastern Syria risk causing a resumption of intense government-SDF fighting or broader ethnic violence.