A former border patrol agent pleaded guilty to two civil rights violations on Friday for demanding women expose their breasts to be admitted into the U.S., according to officials.
Shane Millan, 53, was a United States Border Patrol agent at Wellesley Island in Jefferson County, New York, tasked with remotely processing immigrants crossing the southern border when he began making the demands. Millan’s role was to sign paperwork allowing immigrants to stay in the U.S. pending court hearings.
Millan was charged with 4 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law in August, according to a release. He pleaded guilty to two counts Friday for “willfully (depriving) multiple victims of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Millan further admitted that he told these women that his requests were for legitimate searches incident to admission into the United States, but he knew his demands to see the victims’ breasts were for his own gratification,” a release reads.
In one instance in August, 2023, Millan falsely told a woman her file noted a chest tattoo and asked her to verify multiple times. When she resisted, he threatened to not sign the document. She then complied, showing her bare breasts “for several more seconds.” The woman’s 1-year-old daughter was present during this interaction.
“Welcome to the U.S.A.,” he then told her, according to the plea deal.
Two weeks later, Millan told an another woman’s husband and children to leave the processing room and instructed her to show her breasts to the webcam multiple times.
The plea agreement notes that Millan “ordered” several other female immigrants to expose their breasts in or around August of 2023.
Millan also used his government-issued computer to search several Spanish translations for phrases including: “I will need you to lift your shirt and bra also, please” and “For the safety of your pregnancy, I will need you to lift your shirt please.”
A sentencing is scheduled for July 7, where Millan faces up to 2 years in prison and a fine of $200,000, according to officials.
