Kamala Harris raises “serious concerns” over treatment of Haitian migrants in appeal with DHS chief

Videos taken by Al Jazeera and Reuters appear to show law enforcement officers on horseback using aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants, who are largely Haitian, to prevent them from crossing into the United States.

A law enforcement officer on horseback is seen in the video of Al Jazeera twirling long reins near a group of migrants. Not long before, another individual on horseback can be heard yelling at the migrants, saying, “Are you using your wives? That’s why your country is shit, because you use your women for it. Although blasphemy was redacted in the video report, English Al Jazeera journalist John Holman posted the full quote – he attributed it to an anonymous border patrol agent – on his Twitter.

At one point in the Reuters video, an officer’s horse nearly ran into one of the migrants, who fell back into the water. This video shows officers at the water’s edge, spinning the long reins as migrants cross the border on the US coastline of the Rio Grande. Then, as law enforcement officers try to lock up the migrants, one of the officers appears to be spinning the reins of the horse near one of the migrants.

Sanders added that Mayorkas shared the concern and would keep her informed as the investigation continues.

Secretary Mayorkas also spoke with the Vice President about DHS’s efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of people on our border in Del Rio by providing them with food, shelter, clothing and medical care, as well as ” engagement with non-governmental organizations. and international organizations, ”Sanders wrote.

Harris on Tuesday called the footage “horrific” and said she supported an investigation into the matter.

“What I have seen of these people on horseback, treating human beings as they were, is horrific. And I fully support what is happening right now, which is a thorough investigation of what exactly is going on there. “Harris said in response. to a question from a journalist.

The migrants are located at a temporary site under the Del Rio International Bridge in Texas while waiting to be processed by US immigration authorities. They sleep in the dirt, surrounded by growing garbage piles, exposed to the elements and without much food and water, in hopes of being treated by the overwhelmed US Border Patrol.

Earlier Tuesday, Mayorkas said he was “horrified” by the situation.

“I was horrified by what I saw,” Mayorkas told CNN’s Brianna Keilar on “New Day.” “I will let the investigation take its course. But the images I observed disturbed me deeply. It defies any values ​​that we seek to instill in our people.”