DHS Chief Initially Denies Border Patrol Agents Used Whips On Haitians, Then Changes Tune – By Ashe Schow (Daily Wire) / Sept 21 2021
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday denied allegations that Border Patrol agents were whipping Haitian migrants as they attempted to illegally enter the United State. By Tuesday, however, he appeared to change his mind, saying he was “horrified” by what he saw.
Photos and video published Sunday and picked up by various news outlets alleged that the agents were “whipping” Haitians. Mayorkas denied those allegations to reporters in Del Rio, Texas, on Monday, according to the New York Post. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz also denied that whips were used on the migrants.
“Mayorkas and Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz told reporters in Del Rio, Texas Monday that they saw nothing obviously wrong with how the agents acted based on initial viewings of the images and footage. Mayorkas explained that agents use long reins — not whips — to control their horses, while Ortiz cited the difficulty in distinguishing migrants from smugglers as people move back and forth near the river,” the Post reported. “Ortiz added he would investigate the agents’ actions to make sure nothing ‘unacceptable’ took place.”
On Tuesday, however, Mayorkas appeared to shift toward believing the allegations, saying he was “horrified” by what he saw.
