DHS Secretary Nielsen claims migrant caravan used children as 'human shields' against tear gas

Kirstjen Nielsen.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

In a Monday night Facebook post, the Department of Homeland Security claimed it was necessary to fire tear gas at migrants who approached the southern border on Sunday.

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the "violence we saw at the border was entirely predictable," referring to reports that Central American migrants who reached the San Ysidro port of entry to apply for asylum in the U.S. had thrown rocks at law enforcement after becoming frustrated that they were not able to plead their cases. "Officers can be seriously or fatally injured in such attacks," said Nielsen, though no officials were injured during the incident. Border Patrol fired tear gas into Mexico "to dispel the group" and closed the port.

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.