Acting Deputy Border Patrol Chief Joel Martinez Retired Days After Multiple Female Subordinates Accused Him of Sexual Misconduct.

 

Former Acting Deputy Border Patrol Chief Joel Martinez Retired After Multiple Female Subordinates Accused Him of Sexual Misconduct

Joel Martinez spent 31 years with the U.S. Border Patrol, rising from an agent in San Benito, Texas, to some of the highest positions in the agency.

By January 2024, he was serving as acting deputy chief of the entire U.S. Border Patrol, the agency’s second-highest-ranking position.

Weeks later, he was suspended.

On February 15, 2024, Customs and Border Protection placed Martinez on administrative leave after its Office of Professional Responsibility opened an investigation into sexual harassment and misconduct allegations from multiple female subordinates.

The allegations largely involved Martinez’s time leading the Laredo Sector.

Women who worked beneath him alleged that Martinez made aggressive and explicit sexual comments, expressed his desire to have sex with them, and left them feeling threatened and intensely pressured to comply with his advances.

Six days after his suspension, Martinez opted to retire.

His retirement reportedly protected him from internal administrative punishment that could have resulted from the investigation, although it would not shield him from criminal prosecution if investigators found evidence of criminal conduct.

The information here does not establish that Martinez was criminally charged or convicted, so these allegations should not be presented as proven facts.

But the power structure matters.

These weren't allegations involving strangers or equals. They came from women who worked beneath one of the most powerful officials in the U.S. Border Patrol.

He rose to the second-highest position in the agency. Multiple female subordinates accused him of using that power to sexually pressure them. Then, six days after being suspended, he fucking retired.