Couple files complaint after ‘hostile’ encounter with MCO customs

Parker Brigance, who flew from Punta Cana to Orlando on Jan. 14 with his girlfriend, filed a formal complaint following an encounter with a Customs Border Patrol agent at the Orlando International Airport.”I am submitting a formal complaint regarding what I perceived as a serious violation of CBP Core Values that occurred yesterday at MCO during re-entry into the United States,” he began the letter to Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings.Brigance alleges that while in line for customs, he stepped forward after the person ahead of him was finished, to which CBP Officer Cruz “displayed hostility, stating that we should not have approached,” he said in the letter.Cruz’s behavior is described as “hostile, confrontational and disproportionate to the situation.”Brigance says he and his girlfriend responded by offering to get back in the line, and Cruz “escalated further” and stated that “kicking out of the line was within his power.””Officer Cruz’s threats toward us were unnecessary and concerning, especially given that we were following the directions provided by airport personnel,” Brigance said.The complainant says Cruz accused him of “drinking the entire time” while he was out of the country and “smoking the whole time” after the drinking accusation was shut down. Brigance says the officer also began making inappropriate personal comments to his girlfriend, asking why they were not married and why she was single.”Our perception was that Officer Cruz’s priorities were not aligned with national security objectives but rather personal dominance, intimidation, and inappropriate commentary,” the letter added. “His behavior created an environment of hostility and unnecessary escalation, which was alarming coming from a federal officer in a position of trust.”Brigance is requesting that, in a formal review of the officer, the footage and audio of the interaction be reviewed, and the officer be evaluated and assessed. He also requests that Cruz receive additional training in areas such as how to appropriately interact with female travelers and what alcohol abuse looks like in travelers. Demings received the letter and shared it with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. The GOAA clarified that CBP officers operate under federal authority and are not GOAA employees.However, the GOAA said that based on the information provided, the allegations are concerning and “would not align with the professional standards that both GOAA and CBP expect at our airport.” The GOAA said it would share information with the acting Orlando CBP port director and would request that the matter be reviewed through its formal internal processes.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Parker Brigance, who flew from Punta Cana to Orlando on Jan. 14 with his girlfriend, filed a formal complaint following an encounter with a Customs Border Patrol agent at the Orlando International Airport.

“I am submitting a formal complaint regarding what I perceived as a serious violation of CBP Core Values that occurred yesterday at MCO during re-entry into the United States,” he began the letter to Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings.

Brigance alleges that while in line for customs, he stepped forward after the person ahead of him was finished, to which CBP Officer Cruz “displayed hostility, stating that we should not have approached,” he said in the letter.

Cruz’s behavior is described as “hostile, confrontational and disproportionate to the situation.”

Brigance says he and his girlfriend responded by offering to get back in the line, and Cruz “escalated further” and stated that “kicking [them] out of the line was within his power.”

“Officer Cruz’s threats toward us were unnecessary and concerning, especially given that we were following the directions provided by airport personnel,” Brigance said.

The complainant says Cruz accused him of “drinking the entire time” while he was out of the country and “smoking the whole time” after the drinking accusation was shut down.

Brigance says the officer also began making inappropriate personal comments to his girlfriend, asking why they were not married and why she was single.

“Our perception was that Officer Cruz’s priorities were not aligned with national security objectives but rather personal dominance, intimidation, and inappropriate commentary,” the letter added. “His behavior created an environment of hostility and unnecessary escalation, which was alarming coming from a federal officer in a position of trust.”

Brigance is requesting that, in a formal review of the officer, the footage and audio of the interaction be reviewed, and the officer be evaluated and assessed. He also requests that Cruz receive additional training in areas such as how to appropriately interact with female travelers and what alcohol abuse looks like in travelers.

Demings received the letter and shared it with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

The GOAA clarified that CBP officers operate under federal authority and are not GOAA employees.

However, the GOAA said that based on the information provided, the allegations are concerning and “would not align with the professional standards that both GOAA and CBP expect at our airport.”

The GOAA said it would share information with the acting Orlando CBP port director and would request that the matter be reviewed through its formal internal processes.