United States to investigate incidents involving border officers on horseback dispersing Haitians

The US Department of Homeland Security on Monday pledged to conduct an “expeditious” investigation into what it described as “extremely disturbing” images of border patrol agents on horseback aggressively dispersing Haitian migrants, saying that the internal investigation could lead to disciplinary action.

“The Department of Homeland Security does not condone abuse of the migrants in our custody and we take these allegations very seriously,” said a spokesperson for the department. “The United States Customs and Border Protection Professional Accountability Office is investigating the matter and has alerted the DHS Inspector General’s office.”

Home Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also ordered department staff to deploy to Del Rio, Texas, to ensure border officers perform their duties there “in accordance with applicable policies and training and departmental values ​​”.

Over the weekend, media captured photos and videos showing border patrol officers on horseback rounding up and chasing migrants who had crossed the Rio Grande near Del Rio, a small border community in southwestern Mexico. Texas.

Some footage showed border patrol officers on horseback swinging lariats, a rope used by horsemen, while trying to block the passage of Haitian border workers, actions that fueled concerns that officers were whipping or threatening to whip desperate migrants.

In a video, a policeman on horseback is heard saying to a migrant who huddles with a group of women and children: “This is why your country is shit **, because you use your women for it.” The officer made several attempts to obstruct the man’s path.

The collection of photos and videos caused a major uproar. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the videos “horrific” during a briefing on Monday, saying: “I don’t think anyone seeing these footage would think it was acceptable or appropriate.” .

Congressman Bennie Thompson, Democratic Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the mistreatment of Haitian migrants was “disturbing” and contrary to American values.

“I call on Secretary Mayorkas to take immediate action to hold those responsible to account and ensure that all migrants are treated according to law and decency, as this administration has pledged to do from day one.” Thompson said.

Advocates for asylum seekers have also expressed concern.

“The image of border patrol officers on horseback chasing black immigrants was horrific,” said Lee Gelernt, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union who has led a lawsuit against deportations of migrant families.

In just a few days, thousands of migrants, mostly from Haiti, crossed the southern border near Del Rio, overwhelming US border officials and prompting them to establish a makeshift encampment for the treatment of migrants under a international bridge.

The rapid arrival of thousands of migrants, coupled with the emergence of the massive encampment, prompted the Biden administration to send hundreds of border officials to Del Rio and announce a blitz of deportation flights to Haiti, a country shaken by political turmoil, widespread insecurity, crushing poverty and a deadly earthquake in August.

“This is certainly distinct from the other large migrant movements that we have observed,” Mayorkas said at a press conference in Del Rio on Monday.

Gelernt, the ACLU lawyer, expressed concern that the United States was deporting Haitians, including families with young children, without allowing them to seek asylum.

The Biden administration used a public health authority, colloquially known as Title 42, to “deport” migrants without allowing them to seek protection from the United States. The policy was first instituted in March 2020, but the Biden administration has upheld it, citing the continued spread of the coronavirus and a 21-year record of migrant arrests.

Last week, the ACLU convinced a judge to ban the government from using Title 42 to evict families with children. But the judge suspended his order until September and the Biden administration appealed.

“The situation of Haitian families at the Del Rio Bridge dramatically illustrates what until now has been largely out of sight, namely that the Biden administration has in fact not distanced itself from the asylum policy compared to the Trump administration, ”Gelernt told CBS News.