Fresh off the devastating effects of the latest earthquake in Haiti, migrants fled to America. Now, as the Biden Administration doubles-down on deportation, mistreatment of Haitians comes full circle through viral photographs. James R. Sanders reports.
On Tuesday, videos and images of U.S. Border Patrol agents flooded the internet and outrage sprung out as a result. Men on horseback were seen chasing, blocking, and whipping Haitian migrants using excessive force.
Last week, Homeland Security reported thousands of migrants crossing the border into the city of Del Rio, Texas.
Democratic Senator for New York, Chuck Schumer said the images were, “unacceptable,” further adding that the Biden Administration could not “continue these hateful and xenophobic Trump policies that disregard our refugee laws.”
Before July 29th of this year, the country extended temporary protected status to over 150,000 Haitians currently residing in America. As the extension loomed, additional migrants attempted to flee to the country. Pressure as a result of natural disasters, is a major motivation for the increase in Haitian migrants in America.
Countless public figures have tweeted and made public statements about the images that have now gone viral, including Derrick Johnson, current president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
“The humanitarian crisis happening under this administration on the southern border disgustingly mirrors some of the darkest moments in America’s history,” Johnson said. “If we were to close our eyes and this was occurring under the Trump administration, what would we do? The inhumane treatment of the Haitian refugees seeking help is utterly sickening.”
Johnson’s thoughts were echoed as some question the Biden Administration’s decision to tighten immigration amidst his August deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan; this comes after the Taliban took over control of the country.
Afghan refugees have been accommodated and given asylum at large rates.
Outrage over the images largely have to do with eerie resemblances to images of slavery-era rhetoric. Mississippi chair for the House of Homeland Security Committee called the images, “horrific and disturbing.”
In an official statement from Homeland Security, they said on Monday that the organization would be investigating what was shown in images — though the department did not go into detail as to what that investigation would entail.
Vice President Kamala Harris also said that she found the images “horrible” and would be speaking with Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayokas — though she did not reveal if the Biden Administration had an immediate plan to stop the mistreatment of Haitian migrants.
Johnson demanded a meeting at the white house Tuesday, saying, “In the words of William Clay, ‘We have no permanent enemies and no permanent friends, only permanent interests.’” He added, “The N.A.A.C.P. only has permanent interests.”
More on this story as it develops.