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Authored by Caden Pearson via The Epoch Times,

The Biden administration has instructed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents not to use "he, him, she, her" pronouns when dealing with the public, according to an internal memo.

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) guidance asks CBP staff to use "gender-neutral language" and the "self-identified pronouns and name" of any members of the public they interact with.

It also cautions against using salutations such as "Mr., Mrs. Ms., Sir, Ma'am."

The memo notes that it is generally talking about "individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, non-binary, and gender nonconforming."

The memo goes on to make the point that some LGBT individuals may "define these terms differently."

Amid a historic illegal immigration crisis at the southern U.S. border, the memo has been called an "unnecessary distraction" by a union leader.

Mr. Judd rejected the idea that CBP agents, swamped by thousands of illegal border crossers, now "have to be cognizant of their civil rights." He charged that the issue is not one of civil rights, but "simply a matter of preference."

"Taking the time to deal with that rather than deal with the actual laws that [we're] supposed to be enforcing. This is the woke mob," he added.

The guidance is "forced speech," according to Mike Howell, the director of the Oversight Project, which obtained the memo.

Furthermore, the members of the public that CBP staff most often interact with are migrants and illegal border crossers, he said.

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 19, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Pool/Getty Images)

The memo has been blasted by the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) as an insult grappling with the border crisis.

Mr. Green contrasted the memo's requests with the reality of the border crisis, noting that "criminal illegal aliens" have been "released into our country on [DHS] Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas's watch."

At the same time, he said the committee has watched with apprehension as "a record number of individuals on the terrorist watchlist" were likewise allowed to enter the United States after being processed by border agents.

He attributed this, "in large part," to CBP agents being "so overwhelmed by this unprecedented crisis.”

The Epoch Times has contacted DHS for comment.

Last year, when announcing new measures for transgender people traveling, Mr. Mayorkas touted the Biden administration's commitment to gender identity policies, which he said are treating everyone "regardless of gender identity" with respect.