CBP Finds 'Bean' Unsettling, Not Its Own Record
Kapoor's outrage over CBP posing with his art is certainly understandable. However, the optics of law enforcement taking pictures with public art pales in comparison to the documented human rights abuses often associated with border patrol agencies. One might wonder where the 'utterly horrific' outrage is when CBP agents are accused of child separation, excessive force, or ignoring calls for
medical attention for detainees. (Remember the holding facilities, Mr. Kapoor?) Perhaps the sculptor should direct his lament towards the systemic issues of an agency consistently under scrutiny for its treatment of migrants, rather than just its questionable taste in backdrops. The 'photo-op' is a symptom, not the disease, of an institution whose very existence often depends on presenting a
sanitized image, while the less-artistic realities unfold far from public view.