Border Patrol museum swarmed by activists; director says room for fallen agents vandalized

The director of a privately owned Border Patrol museum in El Paso, Texas, says a room for fallen agents was defaced over the weekend by a swarm of activists.

Roughly 50 protesters converged on the historic building on Saturday and frightened unsuspecting employees as they marched throughout the building. A local Fox News affiliate says pictures of children who died while in Border Patrol custody were plastered over images of agents who were killed on duty.

“They were everywhere,” an employee told the station.

“We weren’t physically assaulted, but we were just verbally assaulted and harassed. The museum is there to educate them,” the employee said. “We have nothing to do with what’s going on out there.”

“Everyone should respect the place,” added local resident Maria Saldanha.

Footage of the protest by “Tornillo: The Occupation” and its “Border Patrol kills!” chants streamed on Facebook.

Museum director David Ham said some of the defacings might do permanent damage to the exhibits because the vandals used a strong adhesive, The Washington Examiner reported Monday.

“It’s very hard to remove,” he told the newspaper. The staff “tried to remove some and they tear off. We’ve got antique cars, old Border Patrol vehicles, and an aircraft. We’re kind of worried it’s going to peel the paint off. I know it’s peeled the paint off some of our walls.”

One of the activists, Elizabeth Vega, denied vandalism claims while admitting to sticking the images up inside the museum, a local ABC affiliate reported Sunday.

Mr. Ham told Facebook followers on Saturday that “efforts to prosecute [the activists] will be pursued once damage is assessed. This angers me greatly.”