The White House‘s reaction to images of border agents on horseback blocking Haitians from crossing into Texas has not changed, even though reports migrants were being whipped have been debunked.
President Joe Biden vowed the border agents “will pay” after photos in the El Paso Times last week were widely reported to show agents whipping migrants. But even though the paper has walked back those claims and it now appears the agents were simply twirling reins, White House press secretary Jen Psaki continued to condemn the agents.
PHOTOGRAPHER: BORDER AGENTS WEREN’T WHIPPING MIGRANTS
“I don’t think anyone could look at those photos and think that was appropriate behavior or something that should be accepted within our administration,” Psaki said, reiterating her comments from last week. “There’s an investigation that’s ongoing. We’ll let that play out, but our reaction to the photos has not changed.”
Video showed the agents did not whip migrants, and a photographer who took the photos that touched off the controversy said the whipping claims were inaccurate. But on Friday, Biden condemned the agents in the harshest terms
“It was horrible what — to see, as you saw, to see people treated like they did, horses nearly running them over and people being strapped. It’s outrageous,” Biden said. “An investigation is underway now, and there will be consequences. There will be consequences. It’s an embarrassment. But beyond an embarrassment, it’s dangerous. It’s wrong. It sends the wrong message around the world. It sends the wrong message at home. It’s simply not who we are.”
In addition to Biden, a number of top administration officials, including Psaki, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas condemned the Del Rio border agents. Mayorkas ordered an internal DHS investigation into the alleged actions, and the Border Patrol agents in question were placed on administrative leave.
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You can watch Psaki’s Monday briefing below.
