# Why Immigration Agents Don’t Quit in Protest > Immigration agents face moral conflicts but rarely quit despite harsh policies. - Title: Why Immigration Agents Don’t Quit in Protest · The New Yorker - Summary: Immigration agents face moral conflicts but rarely quit despite harsh policies. Immigration agents endure moral conflicts with policies but few quit due to… - Keywords: border patrol, immigration, migrant, asylum, deportation, border enforcement, immigration policy, moral conflict, agents, migrant detention, politics, news - Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/magazine/2026/11/09/why-immigration-agents-dont-quit-in-protest - Author: Francisco Cantú - Published: 2026-11-02T11:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: border patrol, immigration, migrant, asylum, deportation, border enforcement, immigration policy, moral conflict, agents, migrant detention, politics, news ## Joshua Childress' Experience Joshua Childress, a Border Patrol agent, quit after witnessing migrant suffering and moral conflicts with policies. > I was impeding the movement of people when I wanted to be able to move freely around the world. ## Migrant Stories Migrants often have stories of trauma, including being deported after hosting barbecues and facing noise complaints. > Because this is my home ## Moral Conflict Agents face moral conflicts between enforcing laws and human suffering, leading to internal struggles. > I barely speak Spanish ## Zero-Tolerance Policy Trump's zero-tolerance policy led to family separations and agent moral distress. > separating children from their parents ## Agent Morale Agent morale dropped under Biden and Trump, with many facing burnout and political pressure. > Under Biden, things are the worst they have ever been by far ## Migrant Detention Conditions Migrant detention facilities face overcrowding and poor conditions, including extreme temperatures. > six hundred migrants detained outdoors without shade ## Whistleblowing Agents like Aaron Veckey report poor conditions but face isolation and retaliation. > I just wanted to throw up ## Historical Context The Border Patrol has a history of brutality, including the 1924 Immigration Act and Operation Wetback. > a cult of brutality ## Agent Rationalization Agents rationalize their actions through denial and dehumanization of migrants. > You see these people like cattle ## Financial Incentives Agents earn high salaries with bonuses, making quitting financially risky. > up to fifty thousand dollars in signing bonuses ## Moral Dilemma Agents face a dilemma between moral integrity and career stability. > It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it ## Agent Withdrawal Few agents quit despite moral conflicts, leading to systemic issues. > I don’t know that I’ve changed a single mind ## Historical Brutality Historical brutality includes the 1924 Immigration Act and Operation Wetback. > eighty-eight deaths ## Migrant Deaths Migrant deaths are high, with over 7,000 people dying or going missing since 2014. > nearly seven thousand people have died or gone missing ## Agent Support Former agents seek support but face challenges in forming communities. > I never think about it otherwise ## Conclusion Agents remain in the system despite moral conflicts, leading to ongoing human suffering. > I sleep good at night ## Key takeaway Immigration agents endure moral conflicts with policies but few quit due to systemic pressures and financial incentives.