The immigration lawyer quoted in the article doesn't waffle about it.

Mr. Mills said the treatment Mr. Rousso experienced was unusual, but representative of a shift in how some border agents are approaching their jobs.

“Now they’re looking really hard for reasons to deny, instead of reasons to admit,” he said.

I've read similar stories before the current administration. Telling a CBP officer that you're going to be "paid to lecture" is not recommended. This is a kind of honesty that doesn't return a favor.