“The pictures that I’ve observed troubled me profoundly.” Photos of a Border Patrol agent on horseback using leather reins to lash at Haitian migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border prompted outrage from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Mayorkas said he was “horrified” by the images that have spread widely on social media and drawn outrage from members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some of the mounted agents use their horses to forcibly move and block the migrants, seeming to herd them like animals, and taunt them in at least one instance.
The disturbing videos and photos were taken in recent days in and around Del Rio and show Border Patrol agents confronting Haitians along the Rio Grande near a border bridge where thousands of migrants have gathered in recent days in hopes of entering the country. Videos by The Associated Press and other news organizations show one agent twirling his reins in a menacing way but not actually striking anyone.
The outrage built quickly, including at the White House, where press secretary Jen Psaki said the images were “horrific,” though she acknowledged not having all the information. “All migrants seeking asylum must be treated in accordance with the law and with basic decency,” the speaker said. Mayorkas said he wouldn’t explicitly say whether they reflected mistreatment or abuse, deferring instead to the investigation.
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