Internal documents obtained by CBS News’ Catherine Herridge have revealed allegations of retaliation by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) against whistleblowers who exposed a stunning agency failure. The controversy centers around the agency’s purported refusal to implement a crucial public safety law involving DNA collection from detainees accused of immigration violations—a lapse that whistleblowers claim has compromised American safety.

The leaked government memo detailed accusations that CBP retaliated against employees who exposed “the agency’s intentional, decade-long failure to enforce the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.” The law mandates the collection of DNA samples from non-U.S. persons detained on immigration charges to bolster public safety and aid criminal investigations.

The whistleblowers, Mark Jones, Fred Wynn, and Michael Taylor, bring a collective 69 years of law enforcement expertise to the table. Each of them has been granted top-secret clearances, including Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), which protects highly sensitive sources and methods. Their respective tenures are 20, 18, and 31 years.

In an exclusive interview with Herridge, the three of them said that the failures of CBP have directly contributed to preventable American deaths. They claimed that had the law been properly enforced, numerous violent offenders might have been apprehended sooner, potentially preventing crimes, including the tragic case of a 37-year-old Maryland woman killed by a suspect who, they say, could have been stopped had his DNA been collected during previous detentions.

“Are you alleging that Homeland Security’s failure to comply with the DNA collection law may have been a contributing factor in Rachel Morin’s death?” Herridge asked.

“It may have been a contributing factor. Yes,” said Fred Wynn.

“No question in your mind?” asked Herridge.

“None…had the subject had DNA taken the first time they were encountered, there would’ve been an instant possibility that any future criminal activity would’ve been stopped immediately, and there was definite potential for the individual to be apprehended,” Wynn said.

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“Our investigation reveals a disturbing picture of systematic non-compliance and apparent disregard for mandated legal protocols designed to protect the public,” Herridge reported. According to the documents, nearly 70% of border encounters since 2010 have neglected the required DNA collections, potentially allowing around 950,000 violent offenders to remain unidentified.

The internal memo also described a hostile work environment for those who have tried to bring these issues to light, including threats of bankruptcy, forced resignation, or worse, retaliatory tactics. “The agency’s goal is to bankrupt you, make you quit, die, kill yourselves, or basically preferably all of the above,” explained the whistleblowers.

Since the Biden/Harris administration took office in 2021, Homeland Security data indicates that there have been over 10 million border encounters.

“We know for a fact that not every individual who crosses the border illegally into the United States goes on to commit violent acts. But given the number, even a very small percentage results in a definite increase in crime within the United States,” said Wynn.

“Ultimately, the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security is responsible. We know that he’s been notified of the non-compliance. They’ve done so with impunity,” added Mike Taylor.

The whistleblowers who dared to speak out against the misconduct have faced harsh backlash since 2023, with their careers hanging by a thread. After exposing wrongdoing, they endured demotions, lost their law enforcement credentials and firearms, and have grappled with hostile work environments. The treatment appeared aimed at silencing them, tarnishing their reputations, and derailing their careers, according to Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) office.

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