DHS to investigate 'extremely troubling' video of horse-mounted border agents chasing Haitian migrants

The White House and Department of Homeland Security said Monday that videos of horse-mounted Border Patrol agents chasing Haitian migrants in Texas were disturbing and would be investigated. DHS "does not tolerate the abuse of migrants in our custody and we take these allegations very seriously," the department said in a statement Monday evening. "The footage is extremely troubling and the facts learned from the full investigation, which will be conducted swiftly, will define the appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken."
The U.S. on Sunday began repatriating some of the more than 10,000 Haitian migrants amassed under an international bridge near Del Rio, Texas, flying them back to Haiti, though most of them traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border from Chile and elsewhere in South America. Video recorded Sunday shows horse-mounted Border Patrol agents rushing Haitian migrants along the Rio Grande, in some cases using obscenities while trying to force them to cross back to Mexico.
Border Patrol chief Raul Ortiz said Monday he deployed horse-mounted agents in Del Rio to "find out if we had any individuals in distress, and be able to provide information and intelligence as to what the smuggling organizations were doing in and around the river." Speaking next to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Del Rio, Ortiz said that contrary to reports, the agents did not have whips and appeared go be swinging their horses' reins while "trying to control" their animals, though he added that officials would "look into the matter to make sure that we do not have any activity that could be construed" as misconduct.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki took a harder line. "I've seen some of the footage, I don't have the full context. I can't imagine what context would make that appropriate," she said. "I don't think anyone seeing that footage would think it was acceptable or appropriate." Psaki added that she couldn't comment further without more information about what happened, it's clear from the "obviously horrific" footage that border agents "should never be able to do it again."
Several congressional Democrats criticized U.S. Customs and Border Protection for apparently mistreating the Haitian migrants, and some migrant advocacy groups slammed the Biden administration for flying Haitians back to their chaotic and unsafe country. Prominent Republicans argue that Biden isn't doing enough to stop migrants at the border.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How will the new tax deductions on auto loans work?
the explainer Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited
-
Is Trump actually going to prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
5 best movie sequels of all time
The Week Recommends The second time is only sometimes as good as the first
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Deportations: The growing backlash
Feature New poll numbers show declining support for Trump's deportation crackdown
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Are we facing a summer of riots?
Today's Big Question Anti-immigrant unrest in Essex has sparked fears of a summer of disorder
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office