A Texas Republican said Border Patrol agents seen abusing Haitian migrants are doing 'God’s work'
U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback were recently filmed using their reins to whip at Haitian migrants who were trying to cross the U.S./Mexico border, and Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas — not to be confused with fellow Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio — has been defending what others are denouncing as cruelty.
During a September 21 appearance on CNN, the 40-year-old Gonzales said, "It's a very desperate situation, and they're doing God's work, fighting everything they can…. The last thing any of us want to see is the mistreatment of anyone, to include migrants, but when you have tens of thousands of people and only hundreds of Border Patrol agents, it creates a very desperate situation."
Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) defends Border Patrol agents caught on camera using reins on migrants:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a very desperate situation and they\u2019re doing God\u2019s work, fighting everything they can.\u201dpic.twitter.com/I0Lhy7rGCp— The Recount (@The Recount) 1632230336
A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop a Haitian migrant from entering an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Acuna Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas on Sunday.\n\n Paul Ratje / AFP via Gettypic.twitter.com/JTMDq6ITPn— NBC News (@NBC News) 1632150458
\u201cThis is why your country\u2019s shit, because you use your women for this!\u201d \u2014 mounted Border Patrol officer to Haitian migrant he was riding down, as he sheltered with his family.\n\nOne of the scenes we saw on the Rio Grande. Watch our video:\n\nFull report:\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTFnKJqcPks\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/UdUcC7B5IS— John Holman (@John Holman) 1632145399
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will be investigating the treatment of Haitian migrants near the U.S./Mexico border. In an official statement, DHS said, "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."
Business Insider's Eliza Relman described the reason why so many Haitian migrants feel a sense of desperation. In an article published on September 22, Relman explained, "Haiti is suffering from urgent humanitarian and political crises. In July, the president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated when gunmen stormed his residence. The country's top prosecutor has since said there's evidence the acting prime minister played a role in the assassination. Meanwhile, the United Nations has reported that 800,000 Haitians were impacted by the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the country last month, which killed more than 2000 people."
A Haitian migrant recently told Al Jazeera, "Everyone knows what we Haitians are going through. There's no president. Crime is high. Students can't go to school. There's no work. The economy is down. People can't put up with that."
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki slammed the images of U.S. Border Patrol agents abusing Haitian migrants as "horrific," and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke out as well:
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki says Biden found viral videos of Border Patrol being aggressive with Haitian migrants \u201chorrific.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is not who we are," Psaki says. "That\u2019s not who the Biden-Harris administration is."pic.twitter.com/T5nPVAjih7— The Recount (@The Recount) 1632228844
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki says Biden found viral videos of Border Patrol being aggressive with Haitian migrants \u201chorrific.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is not who we are," Psaki says. "That\u2019s not who the Biden-Harris administration is."pic.twitter.com/T5nPVAjih7— The Recount (@The Recount) 1632228844
Vice President Kamala Harris attacked the images as "horrible":
VP Kamala Harris calls videos of Border Patrol agents using reins on Haitian migrants \u201chorrible\u201d and says she supports a \u201cthorough investigation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply troubled about it.\u201dpic.twitter.com/jaKlrajr69— The Recount (@The Recount) 1632241675
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted:
These are human rights abuses, plain and simple.\n\nCruel, inhumane, and a violation of domestic and international law. This needs a course correction and the issuance of a clear directive on how to humanely process asylums seekers at our border.https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1439990644357926919\u00a0\u2026— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1632158192
Here are some more reactions to the treatment of Haitian migrants near the U.S./Mexico Border:
Oh yeah @TonyGonzales4TX \u2013 I forgot that little known part in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are those who ride down the poor and hungry, and beat them mercilessly with ropes and whips.\u201d— Brian White (@Brian White) 1632234176
The Border Patrol as an agency has been captured by the worst Americans. It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.— Jon Spaihts (@Jon Spaihts) 1632161270
Border Patrol is where the worst vets go- the ones who love abusing power, but hate having the accountability of the military.— Tom Radtke (@Tom Radtke) 1632243549
Yo this zoomed in shot reeeeally screams 1790's to me— ElysiumWorks95 (@ElysiumWorks95) 1632151405
- Border Patrol accused of 'unfathomable cruelty' for cracking whips at ... ›
- Assassins of Haiti president posed as US DEA agents: report ... ›
- Slain Haitian president faced a mass uprising before his killing ... ›
- How the myth of 'border security' empowers American fascists - Alternet.org ›
- ‘What would you have him do?’: Jen Psaki shoots down Peter Doocy's push for Biden to visit the border - Alternet.org ›
- Biden decries 'outrageous' treatment of Haitians at border — but keeps deporting them - Alternet.org ›
- An asylum law scholar explains how US skirts its legal and moral duties - Alternet.org ›
- Lindsey Graham goes on baffling rant about ‘40,000 Brazilians’ with ‘Gucci bags’ heading for Connecticut - Alternet.org ›