White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked why President Joe Biden has not delivered remarks about images showing Border Patrol agents aggressively confronting Haitian migrants at the U.S-Mexico border.
During a press briefing on Thursday, PBS’ Yamiche Alcindor asked, “Why is [Biden] not using that bully pulpit to speak out forcefully himself on the treatment of Haitians?”
“Certainly, I’ve represented to you all his point of view. His point of view is also reflected in the actions that have been taken through the administration…He certainly may still speak to it. Obviously, there’s a lot of events happening here,” Psaki responded.
However, Alcindor pushed back, “Respectfully, I understand that you are the spokesperson for the president. These are images that are traumatizing Haitian Americans that he promised to treat respectfully and with humanity. Why isn’t the president telling people himself these images that people say look like slavery are wrong? ‘I as president condemn them.’ How is he not doing that? Why is he not doing that? And what are we supposed to take away from the fact that he is not at the bully pulpit himself talking about these images?”
Psaki repeated that she believes the Biden administration’s response to the images should send a message that the president does not approve of the Border Patrol agents’ treatment of Haitian migrants.
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In recent days, thousands of Haitian migrants have 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 Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into the incident, as IJR reported.
Psaki told reporters on Tuesday that Biden “believes that the footage and photos are horrific. They don’t represent who we are as a country. And he was pleased to see the announcement of the investigation.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris called the treatment of the migrants “horrible.” She added, “Human beings should never be treated that way.”
On Thursday, Psaki announced that Border Patrol agents in Del Rio will no longer use horses.