Disturbing images and videos taken near the southern border in Del Rio, Texas drew strong reactions on both side of the aisle Tuesday.
One video appeared to show a U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback blocking migrants from crossing the river. Other images show an agent holding what are called “split reins” while grabbing the shirt of a migrant carrying food.
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced they are investigating the incident. “DHS does not tolerate the abuse of migrants in our custody and we take these allegations very seriously,” the DHS said in a tweet thread. “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 tweet came a day before DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified at a Senate committee hearing Monday. There, he was asked about the border videos. “I was horrified to see the images, and we look forward to learning the facts that are adduced from the investigation, and we will take actions that those facts compel,” Mayors said. “We do not tolerate any mistreatment or abuse of a migrant. Period.”
At least two members of the White House commented on the border videos Tuesday, including Vice President Kamala Harris. “What I saw depicted about those individuals on horseback treating human beings the way they were was horrible and I fully support what is happening right now, which is a thorough investigation into exactly what is going on there,” Harris said. “But human beings should never be treated that way. And I’m deeply troubled about it.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki added “I have seen some of the footage. I don’t have the full context. I can’t imagine what context would make that appropriate”.
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott went down to the border Tuesday. There, he placed the blame for the “total chaos” at the border squarely on the Biden administration.
“They have shown no capability of being able to process all of these migrants by the end of this week,” Gov. Abbott said. “The only thing that they’ve shown is an incapability of dealing with this crisis candidly in a way where they pretend it doesn’t even exist.”