DHS says U.S. border agents should be 'applauded' for only tear-gassing migrants in Mexico on Tuesday

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired tear gas into Mexico early Tuesday after a group of about 150 migrants tried to breach a section of border fence in Tijuana, but the details surrounding the incident are contested. CBP said Tuesday that "no agents witnessed any of the migrants at the fence line, including children, experiencing effects of the chemical agents, which were targeted at the rock throwers further away," and Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Waldman characterized the gassed crowd as a projectile-hurling "violent mob of migrants."

An Associated Press photographer saw woman and children affected by the three or more volleys of gas fired into Mexico, and "the AP saw rocks thrown only after U.S. agents fired the tear gas," AP reports. "A Reuters witness did not see any migrants throwing rocks at U.S. agents," though "one migrant picked up a canister and threw it back into U.S. territory," Reuters said, adding that at least one "migrant had been hit by what appeared to be a gas canister." AP said it "saw plastic pellets fired by U.S. agents."

Many of the migrants arrived in November and face a months-long wait before they can request asylum in the U.S., and some told Reuters they tried to cross into California on New Year's Eve because they though security might be relaxed. Most of the migrants who breached the fence fled back into Mexico, but 25 were arrested, CBP said. "Our personnel used the minimum force necessary to defend themselves, defend the border, and restore order," DHS' Waldman said. "The agents involved should be applauded for handling the situation with no reported injuries to the attackers."

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Amnesty International was not clapping. "The Trump administration is defying international law and orchestrating a crisis by deliberately turning asylum-seekers away from ports of entry, endangering families who see no choice but to take desperate measures in their search for protection," said Amnesty's Justin Mazzola. CBP said its Office of Professional Responsibility would review the incident.