Joe Biden promised that Border Patrol agents would “pay” while pushing the debunked claim that agents on horseback used whips on Haitian migrants. Biden’s threats came just a day after the photographer behind the viral images confirmed that no whips were used by Border Patrol agents.
Photographs of mounted Border Patrol agents went viral earlier in the week after left-wing politicians and activists claimed they were “whipping” Haitian migrants. Maxine Waters (R-CA) remarked that the images were “worse than what we saw with slavery” and blasted Border Patrol agents for supposedly “whipping” migrants. Within hours, it became clear that the alleged whips were simply horse reins. “Agents use their reins for a lot of reasons. Primarily it’s used to steer the horse, but agents will also spin them sometimes to deter people from getting too close to the horse,” the Border Patrol said in a statement. They added that there have been no reports of migrants being struck by the reins.
The story was debunked completely when the photographer behind the viral images sat down with KTSM in El Paso. Photographer Paul Ratje told KTSM that he never saw whips being used by agents or any migrants being struck. “Some of the Haitian men started running, trying to go around the horses,” Ratje said. “I’ve never seen them whip anyone,” Ratje said. “He was swinging (the reins), but it can be misconstrued when you’re looking at the picture.”
Nevertheless, the Biden regime took steps to ban the uses of mounted agents along the southern border. According to Jen Psaki, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told “civil rights leaders” that the use of horse patrols would be suspended.
Biden continued to tout the false claim in a press conference on Friday. The president threatened the Border Patrol agents falsely accused of using whips and said they would “pay” for their actions. “It was horrible what to see, what you saw. To see people treated like they did, horses running over people being strapped. It’s outrageous,” Biden said. “I promise you those people will pay. (There) will be an investigation underway now and there will be consequences, there will be consequences. It’s an embarrassment that’s beyond an embarrassment. It’s dangerous, it’s wrong, it sends the wrong message around the world.”
"Those people will pay… there will be consequences" said President Joe Biden on Friday of mounted Border Patrol agents photographed confronting Haitian migrants. pic.twitter.com/cLMliFfJi9
— Newsmax (@newsmax) September 24, 2021
DHS Secretary Mayorkas informed lawmakers that several agents have been placed on administrative leave as an investigation unfolds. “I want to assure you that we are addressing this with tremendous speed and tremendous force,” Mayorkas said. He added that the findings would be revealed within days. “The investigation will be all-encompassing; we will not cut a single corner….It will be a sweeping investigation.”
According to the federal government, a little over 5,000 Haitian migrants remain in a makeshift camp along the border in Del Rio, Texas. “Thousands” of illegal immigrants have reportedly been released into the United States since the Del Rio crisis began. Haitian migrants have also attacked ICE officials and pilots on deportation flights while another group briefly hijacked a bus in San Antonio.