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A Florida man who was caught on video telling a Black teen "You don't belong in this development"and "You do not deserve to be in here" was identified as a member of Homeland Security, according to the Palm Beach Post.
60-year-old Lee Jeffers was caught on tape verbally harassing and abusing 15-year-old Breonna Nelson-Hicks and her friends in a housing development in Wellington, Florida.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that he was one of their own after being identified from his video.
#BREAKING: Sources say Florida man harassing 15-year-old black girl in viral video is Lee Jeffers, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security employee at @USCIS Citizenship and Immigration Services in West Palm Beach. @USCISMediaSouth is preparing a statement. https://t.co/royYLw4rHHpic.twitter.com/eEIhGR9xLu
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) June 18, 2020
According to the kids in the video, Jeffers threatened to hit them with his car if they did not leave the premises. According to a report Jeffers filed with the sheriff department, he almost hit the teens.
The teens said Jeffers pulled up behind them and almost hit them, then when they pulled to the side to allow his to go by he pulled up behind them. That was when the teens felt unsafe and decided to leave the golf cart and go home.
But Jeffers followed them in his car.
He also made a number of inappropriate comments, including that, because they were 15 years old, they "could marry" in some states.
In addition, he threatens to "call the gate" and have the kids arrested, even though the girl he was targeting lived in the development with her grandfather, Tony Nelson.
Hoping he loses that pension.
— Chris Rose (@ChrisRo18831430) June 19, 2020
Fire him
— Joni Holinger (@JoniHolinger) June 19, 2020
Get him off the payroll!
— Jill Ruskusky (@jillruskusky) June 19, 2020
This is exactly the type of person that should NOT be working in immigration!!!! Terminate his employment!!
— JennyC (@jenn0930) June 19, 2020
He needs to lose his job
— Shirley Pavlak (@metsfanheatherb) June 19, 2020
USCIS released a statement calling the video "disturbing."
According to their statement:
"We are looking into the matter that has been reported in the press about this individual's off-duty behavior."
"We are working to get all available information in considering what action, if any, may be appropriate for the agency to take."
After preparing the statement, fire this racist jerk
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) June 18, 2020
Not only do these people need to be fired, but we need to find additional ways of informing the public that they are racist and should be treated as such.
— Yonathan Seleshi (@yonathanseleshi) June 18, 2020
FIRE HIM! He is full of HATE! I had heard that the US Dept of Homeland Security was a Hate filled bunch! Here is one of their "finest"!
Can you imagine how horrible him and his colleagues are against Poor Immigrants?
I hope there are Lawsuits brought against this ABUSE!
— Kathy G (@kghope9) June 18, 2020
Hoo boy. pic.twitter.com/lyXKIZv3Cs
— areyoukiddingme (@mhickey187) June 18, 2020
No one with this embedded type of hate needs to be employed by our government or any other conscientious company. If my tax dollars are paying this man salary, I want him fired NOW. As a mother I was very concerned about his action of following & scaring girls.
— EducatedWildChildGrownUp (@ListenHere12) June 18, 2020
According to The Palm Beach Post, Nelson said he continued to speak to the man after he sent the girls into his house and the video stopped. Jeffers told Nelson he lived a couple streets over.
Nelson told him:
"You threatened these kids."
Jeffers tried to defend his actions and spoke about apologizing to the teens according to Nelson, but he said his granddaughter was scared and the damage had been done.
Nelson said he told Jeffers:
"You were totally inappropriate and you scared the girls."
Jeffers reportedly approached Nelson-Hicks's grandfather again in the wake of the backlash with an apology and a request to meet in person.
Nelson said to the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
"He got my phone number and contacted me to apologize. I initially told him the damage was done and I could not accept it."
"Am I going to be forgiving him? I can't say that. I would be lying..."
"I don't want people to think they can get away with this kind of behavior if they come back later and say they're sorry."
"He's got to prove himself to the community first."
He should have to move! He doesn't deserve to live there.
— illhikethat (@illhikethat1) June 19, 2020
Statement: you're services are no longer required. Perhaps Alabama or Mississippi is hiring.
— Rob Faust (@ChefRobFaust) June 19, 2020
Love that she didn't give in to his questioning.
— Karen Story (@Storyk61Karen) June 19, 2020
A racist working immigration. Perfect.
— The Ghost of Tom Joad (@_LostInTheFlood) June 18, 2020
“You don't deserve to be here", if that doesn't say everything you need to know.
— Jerry (@Snax_63) June 18, 2020
Does "Jerry" do a personal roll call of every person living on the grounds? Does he make it his personal business to identify each and every living person who walks in and out of the gate? Who ordained him judge, jury and executioner in regards to who deserves to be there? sheesh
— Lisa Smith 🌊 (@LisaSmith93405) June 19, 2020
Both Jeffers job status and his forgiveness from Mr. Nelson are pending.