In a dramatic reversal of campaign promises towards asylum seekers, the Biden administration has faced another political bungle, just after alienating France, with harrowing images of Haitian immigrants being beaten back by members of the Border Patrol at the Texas and Mexican international bridge.
These events stand in stark contrast to the president’s stated objectives when it came to asylum seekers and immigrants on the campaign trail, and now in office, the tactics and rulings toward expulsions to Haiti seem more draconian than his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Comparisons to American slavery abound as members of the patrol on horseback used their reigns to ensnare the Haitians, and often using foul curses while doing so.
The consequences of sending plane loads of them back to Haiti, a country that many had not known, or escaped from, after the 2010 hurricane, seeking employment in South America, (some working at the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro) only to have Covid destroy their livelihoods is even more baffling, since Haiti lost its president in a recent assassination, the economy is in shambles, and many with nothing but the clothes on their backs, are now living on the streets of Port Au Prince.
Further damming the country, Haiti has suffered the aftermath of a recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake, leaving desperation and financial ruin all around.
For Black Americans the images are especially disturbing, and the outrage towards Biden has been relentless, with the NAACP issuing a statement to the White House saying, in part, “White (and white-presenting) men on horseback with lariats are seen chasing, yelling and cursing at vulnerable Black asylum seekers who have for weeks and months been fleeing toward what they thought was safety,”
Adding to the events was Chief Raul Ortiz of the Border Patrol claiming that “the mounted unit was deployed to assist with security and see if any migrants were in distress . . .” reported The New York Times.
Disingenuous to the side, others claimed that the use of horses in an open are not the best choice, “especially with a lot of people, is probably not the best place to be,” said Gil Kerlikowske, a former commissioner with Customs and Border Protection.
As he told the Times, “I think they’re really trying to send a strong deterrence message.”
That open area was also filled with women and children, some who were crossing back and forth, between the two countries, for food, and supplies; knee deep in murky water.
Skirting the issue was Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary for the Homeland Security Department, who defended deterrence matters, while saying on Wednesday that he would look into the matter.
While there is some sympathy for a vexing problem that has plagued many an American presidents these optics, say some, point to a crisis in the West Wing, on how to tackle the issue, with one side saying, accurately, that they were left a mess by the previous administration, and were not prepared to allow any asylum seekers in, and while others, Susan Rice, chiefly, saying deter.
Whoever is responsible for the directions, the subsequent humanitarian crisis is one that has many people recoiling, while the Republicans gleefully point fingers, and decry a “policy” that has caused the events, such as Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
In a continuance of Trump’s policy Biden has continued the use of Title 42 to stem the tide of immigration, but now it seeks to staunch the blood from a political fight that can loom large in the upcoming midterm elections.
Reaction from key lawmakers has been swift, with Vice President Kamala Harris calling the treatment “horrible” and that “human beings should never be treated that way.”
On the Hill, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called the scenes “heartbreaking,” and that she was following the events with a close eye.
On Thursday, the senior American envoy for Haiti policy, Daniel Foote quit in disgust, and in a sharp letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, “"not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees".
CNN reported that, “State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday that Foote "has both resigned and mischaracterized the circumstances of his resignation."
"He failed to take advantage of ample opportunity to raise concerns about migration during his tenure and chose to resign instead," Price said in a statement. He also said he was "not going to parse the contents of his resignation letter," but disputed a number of the points in that letter.”
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that Foote never raised any objections and that all opinions were valued, and "I would note that Special Envoy Foote had ample opportunity to raise concerns about migration during his tenure. He never once did so. Now, that wasn't his purview," Psaki said during a White House briefing. "His purview was, of course, being the special envoy on the ground. His positions were and his views were put forward. They were valued. They were heard. Different policy decisions were made in some circumstances."
It’s easy to see that Foote has been left twisting in the wind, but his resignation added fuel to a fire that does not seem to be easily extinguished.
To stem the tide of the double debacle, the United States has allowed some of the asylum seekers to remain in the country, mostly women, and men, with children, and families. Processing has been done in Houston by a faith based group, with many joining family members already there.
Locations include New York, Boston and Miami; meanwhile the horse patrol has been suspended, but 4,000 asylum seekers still remain in Texas, with rough estimates that 2,000 were repatriated to Haiti and another 2,000 to stay in the US to await adjudication with the immigration courts, which could take years.
Mayorkas has now said that the area in Del Rio has been cleared by “heroic” efforts, and promised an investigation that will not be predetermined. He also gave some numbers that were at variance with earlier media reports.
According to The Washington Post, “Mayorkas said about 2,000 migrants have been expelled to Haiti on a total of 17 flights organized by DHS. Six more flights were scheduled Friday. About 8,000 migrants “decided to return to Mexico voluntarily,” he said.
The Post also gave some statements, on deep background, and that person said “Most of the 8,000 were part of those who arrived to the Del Rio camp, indicating more than half of the migrants who arrived there have returned to Mexico, according to a DHS official who was not authorized to speak to reporters.”
Meanwhile Biden said, “It was horrible,” and, “To see people treated like they did? Horses running them over and people being strapped? It's outrageous and I promise you, those people will pay.”
“There will be consequences,” he said. “It’s simply not who we are.”
This incident has revealed some deep fissures in a White House that most felt was diligent and competent, veterans of previous administrations, who were compelled by nature to refute much of what the last four years had borne.
To many the thought process of some in the Biden White House is confusing, and, as an example, there is this: “Mayorkas said the administration had determined Haiti to be capable of taking back the returnees, just weeks after finding the country too unsafe as DHS extended protected status to eligible Haitians present in the United States before July 29, shielding them from deportation.”
This is a developing story with updates to be provided.
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