The new report by the Internal Customs and Border Protection watchdog states that Border Patrol agents riding on horseback didn’t whip Haitian migrants who crossed the border in 2021 but used unnecessary force and blamed Texas law enforcement officers for asking them to push the migrants into Mexico.
According to the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, “[Border Patrol] personnel conducted an operation at [the Texas Department of Public Safety]’s request which directly contravened USBP operational goals and resulted the unnecessary use of force for migrants.” According to the report, Texas personnel involved in the incident refused to give any details when asked about TXDPS’ operational objectives.
About 15,000 Haitian migrants had already gathered under the international bridge that connects Mexico and Del Rio in Texas by Sept. 19, 2021. Many attempted to cross Rio Grande into the U.S. by boat, a ramp located less than half mile from legal U.S. entry point.
Photographers captured members of the Border Patrol Horse Patrol following Haitian migrants. They grabbed the shirt of at most one of them and then swirled the reins of the horses in an intimidating way. Some news outlets reported that agents were “whipping” migrants.
Interviews with supervisors and journalists were conducted. The report concluded that there was no evidence that agents “involved” in the incident that struck any migrant, intentionally or not. Members of the Horse Patrol Unit use split-reins that can be spun to control their horses.
However, the report found that border patrol agents used force or threat of force to force migrants back into Rio Grande River, despite them being well within the United States territorial boundary. Border Patrol agents are supposed not to push people back into Mexico or the river, but to arrest those who crossed into the United States between legal ports.
According to the report, one agent “acted in an unprofessional way” by shouting at a migrant male hiding behind women or children, “Hey! What do you use your women for? You use your women?
According to the report, Texas officials were responsible for blocking part of the Rio Grande riverbank. This resulted in migrants trying to use the boat ramp to get into the U.S. According to the report, Texas officials asked federal agents to assist them in pushing migrants back into river. This was not part the Border Patrol plan.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, stated that the misconduct of several individuals did not reflect the distinguished and brave service of agents of the United States Border Patrol. The investigation found that agents and the public were disserviced by the organizational failures in policy, procedures and training. CBP must do and will do better.
