Vice President Kamala Harris’ comparison of the treatment of Haitian migrants at the southern border to slaverly was briefly interrupted by laughter.
During an interview on ABC’s “The View” Friday, Harris said, “I’ve been very clear about the images that you and I both saw of those law enforcement officials on horses. I was outraged by it. It was horrible and deeply troubling. There’s been now an investigation that is being conducted which I fully support, and there needs to be consequence and accountability.”
“Human beings should not be treated that way and, as we all know, it also evoked images of some of the worst moments of our history where that kind of behavior has been used against…” Harris said as she paused to let out a laugh.
She continued, “The indigenous people of our country, has been used against African-Americans during times of slavery.”
Watch the video below:
.@VP Kamala Harris says images of Border Patrol & Haitian migrants “evoked images of some of the worst moments of our history, where that kind of behavior has been used against the Indigenous people of our country, has been used against African Americans during times of slavery.” pic.twitter.com/GsftUQtDKC
— The Recount (@therecount) September 24, 2021
Observers have noted other moments that Harris has been caught laughing at inopportune times.
Thousands of Haitian migrants crossed the border at Del Rio, Texas, to seek asylum in the U.S.
Haiti was thrown into political turmoil earlier this year after gunmen assassinated the island nation’s president. And last month, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti left at least 2,200 people dead.
Images surfaced earlier this week showing Border Patrol agents aggressively confronting Haitian migrants as they crossed into the U.S.
As The New York Times notes, “The videos appear to show mounted Border Patrol agents corralling migrants and forcing them back to Mexico. Some of the agents were gripping and waving what appeared to be reins, prompting accusations that they had been using whips against them. One video captured an agent shouting an expletive at a migrant.”
The photographer who took the images that appeared to depict agents whipping migrants told the NBC News affiliate in El Paso, Texas, KTSM that he and his colleagues did not see agents whip migrants.
The Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into the incident, as IJR reported.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) suggested that “what we witnessed was worse than what we witnessed in slavery.”
“Cowboys, with their reins, again, whipping Black people, Haitians, into the water where they’re scrambling and falling down when all they’re trying to do is escape from violence in their country,” she added.
On Friday, President Joe Biden vowed that the Border Patrol agents who were seen on camera confronting the migrants will face consequences.
“I take responsibility as president, but it was horrible, what you see, as you saw, to see people treated like they did, horses nearly running them over, people being strapped. It’s outrageous,” he said, adding, “I promise you, those people will pay! They will be, an investigation underway now, and there will be consequences. There will be consequences.”