A US Border Patrol agent has been arrested in New York on accusations of compelling women to expose themselves during virtual interviews, purportedly as a condition for entry into the United States. Shane Millan, 53, from Jefferson County, faces charges of depriving the women of their Constitutional rights against unreasonable searches.
According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of New York, Millan is alleged to have instructed three women to reveal their bare chests and a fourth to partially undress during video calls. The accusations, outlined in a news release, claim that these incidents occurred in August 2023. It remains unclear why the charges were only filed now, more than a year later.
Millan reportedly told the women that the demands were part of a “legitimate search incident to admission into the United States,” though authorities suggest these actions were driven by his personal gratification. The agent was overseeing the virtual processing of their admission into the country at the time.
The charges against Millan include four misdemeanor counts for violating the women’s Constitutional rights. The alleged offenses took place in Jefferson County near the Canadian border and possibly other locations.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a statement affirming its zero-tolerance policy for misconduct within its ranks. The agency emphasized its commitment to investigating any alleged wrongdoing and cooperating fully with both criminal and administrative investigations, though it did not comment specifically on Millan’s case.
Millan appeared before a US magistrate judge in Syracuse on Thursday, where he was arraigned on the charges. He has been released pending trial, with a jury trial scheduled for October 21. Court documents do not indicate whether Millan has entered a plea, and CNN is working to confirm whether he has secured legal representation.
