US3 min(s) read
Published 16:36 21 Sep 2021 GMT
The White House's press secretary, Jen Psaki, has responded to "horrific" viral videos and images that show US Border Patrol agents confronting Haitian refugees at the US border, per CNN.
Psaki said on Monday that Washington is seeking more information on the videos that show agents on horseback.
"I've seen some of the footage. I don't have the full context. I can't imagine what context would make that appropriate, but I don't have additional details, and certainly, I don't have additional context," she said at the White House press briefing.
"I don't think anyone seeing that footage would think it was acceptable or appropriate," she continued, adding that the videos were "obviously horrific" and "horrible to watch".
When pressed as to whether the agents should be dismissed for their conduct, Psaki said, "Of course they should never be able to do it again."
WARNING: This following tweet contains upsetting content:Videos taken by Al Jazeera and Reuters show the agents being aggressive to migrants. Their tactics allegedly included swinging long reigns near individuals who crossed the US-Mexico border near Del Rio, Texas.
A Reuters video shows the officer's horse charging close to one of the migrants, who falls back into the water. In the Al Jazeera video, an agent is heard shouting at the migrants, saying: "You use your women? This is why your country is sh*t, because you use your women for this."
The incident took place in Del Rio, Texas, where over 15,000 migrants — largely of Haitian descent — have converged on a border bridge, per NBC News.
The full transcript of the agent's remarks can be read on the Twitter account of Al Jazeera journalist, John Holman.
Homeland security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, spoke at a news conference close to the border on Monday. He said that the department would be investigating the incident, but defended the use of horse patrols.
"To ensure control of the horse, long reins are used but we are going to investigate the facts to ensure that the situation is as we understand it to be and if it's anything different, we will respond accordingly," he said.
In a series of tweets published on Monday evening, the Department of Homeland Security said that "DHS does not tolerate the abuse of migrants in our custody and we take these allegations very seriously."
They claimed that Mayorkas "directed that personnel from the Office of Professional Responsibility be on-site full-time to ensure that the responsibilities of DHS personnel are executed consistent with applicable policies and training and the Department's values.
"The footage is extremely troubling and the facts learned from the full investigation, which will be conducted swiftly, will define the appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken," they added.
Speaking to CNN, Mayorkas added, "One cannot weaponize a horse to aggressively attack a child. That is unacceptable. That is not what our policies and our training require ... We will not tolerate mistreatment."
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us3 min(s) read
Published 12:22 20 Feb 2025 GMT
The official Instagram page of the White House has posted a controversial video about deportations, and they've been met with a lot of backlash.
Since returning to office on January 20, President Donald Trump has wasted no time ramping up his immigration policies.
His administration has issued over 21 executive actions targeting illegal immigration, including tougher enforcement, expanded ICE powers, and stricter border security measures.
Trump's administration has framed these policies as necessary for national security, but critics argue they are draconian and harmful to vulnerable populations.
It would appear that the White House remain unmoved by any criticism, and have doubled down on their position with a bizarre video.
The video, shared on the White House’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, features an ASMR-style depiction of deportations.
The footage shows individuals being handcuffed and escorted onto an airplane, with audio emphasizing the roar of jet engines, the jingle of handcuffs, and the sound of footsteps boarding the aircraft.
The post has been widely condemned on social media, with many users questioning its intent and tone.
One person wrote: "Using ASMR to frame something so inherently traumatic like it’s entertainment rather than the life-altering, often heartbreaking event that it is… It strips away the humanity of those being deported, reducing their suffering to a spectacle."
A second added: "This is completely disgusting and dehumanizing. Who raised you! I’m horrified."
A third person said: "As a Christian, this is absolutely disgusting."
While a fourth penned: "This is beyond disgusting. I don’t care what party you support, if you support this video, your heart is deeply troubled."
Another wrote: "This is the most absurd, inhumane , embarrassing, and downright disturbing thing I have seen in a while. I can’t believe this is the account of our country’s leader. It’s worse than a bad joke at this point."
This is not the first time the White House’s social media activity has come under scrutiny in recent weeks.
On February 14, the official White House Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts posted a poem that read: "Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally and we will deport you."
Set against a pink background, the post featured images of President Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan.
However, rather than spreading romance, the message quickly ignited backlash.
Many social media users condemned the post, calling it inappropriate and offensive.
"Whoever runs this page needs to be fired," one Instagram commenter wrote, reflecting widespread disapproval.
On X, another user criticized the post’s tone, stating: "Immigration is more than a meme. Real people, real lives, real struggles. Maybe it’s time for a more serious and humane discussion…!?
"History—and future generations—will judge societies by how they treat the most vulnerable. Let’s ensure compassion is part of the equation, not just policy."
In January, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images of deportation flights conducted using military cargo planes, according to the Daily Mail.
While the administration has defended its policies as necessary for national security, critics argue they are harsh and harmful to vulnerable populations.
us2 min(s) read
Published 15:20 09 Mar 2018 GMT
In recent months, the crackdown on illegal immigrants and those who assist them has increased in the USA. People who fail to go via the proper channels in order to attain legal residency in the states are being deported, even when they have young children or other family members in the country.
Recently, Perla Morales-Luna, a mother from South Carolina, was arrested in front of her children on suspicion of being part of a transnational criminal smuggling organization.
A video of the incident was uploaded to Facebook yesterday, and, at the time of writing, has garnered more than eight million views. Despite the accusations against Morales-Luna, many people are divided over whether or not the actions taken against her were justified.
In the video, Morales-Luna is physically yanked away from people who are trying to hold her back, then forced into a border patrol car while a crowd of people - including her daughters - helplessly look on. Several onlookers can be heard screaming and crying throughout the video; meanwhile, the patrol agents and plain-clothes officers continue to issue instructions to the suspect.
In another video of the incident, which has since been taken down, Morales-Luna can be heard saying, "don't touch me" as she is manhandled and pushed into the vehicle.
During the two-minute ordeal, Morales-Luna's young daughters repeatedly ask for information about what's going on.
"Mom!" one of them screams. "Where is she going?"
The officers appear to be ignoring the girls for the most part and drive off with their mother - leaving them all alone beside an intersection. At the end of the video, a man comes up to them and asks if they are alright and whether they are able to call any other members of their family.
You can watch the clip below, but - be warned - it is fairly distressing.
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In a statement, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) explained why the woman had been detained.
"She was arrested as a result of a targeted operation on March 3, 2018, in National City for being in the country illegally," said Jackie Wasiluk, a spokesperson for CBP. "She is currently in Border Patrol custody awaiting transfer to ICE for removal proceedings."
CBP has refused to give any further information on the case - including the name of the smuggling organization that Morales-Luna was said to belong to - because it is still under investigation.
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The issue that many people have with the incident is not so much that Morales-Luna was arrested, but that she was taken from her family in such a heartless manner.
Judith Castro-Rangel, who uploaded both videos to Facebook and teaches one of the suspect's daughters, described the ordeal as "brutal".
"The brutalized, injustice that is happening in this country is sad," Castro-Rangel wrote in a Facebook post. "The subjects dressed as civilians detained Perla Morales at the head of her three daughters whom the Border Patrol left alone after brutally arresting their mother."
Opinions are obviously divided on the matter, but one thing is for sure: no child should have to watch their mother being dragged away like this. The situation could have been handled better, regardless of what the suspect has or has not done.
us3 min(s) read
Published 14:48 15 Feb 2025 GMT
The White House sparked outrage on social media after sharing a Valentine’s Day message that took aim at illegal immigrants — rather than celebrating love.
The official Instagram and X accounts posted a politically charged poem: "Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally and we will deport you."
The message was set against a pink background and featured images of President Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan. But instead of spreading romance, the post ignited backlash.
Many users were quick to condemn the post, calling it inappropriate and offensive.
"Whoever runs this page needs to be fired," one commenter wrote on Instagram, reflecting widespread disapproval across the platforms.
X users also voiced their disapproval, with one person writing: "Immigration is more than a meme. Real people, real lives, real struggles. Maybe it’s time for a more serious and humane discussion…!?
"History—and future generations—will judge societies by how they treat the most vulnerable. Let’s ensure compassion is part of the equation, not just policy."
"I thought this was a parody account at first. Absolutely disgusting," another added, with one X user adding: "This is in very poor taste coming from the White House."
And one social media user wrote: "What a joke, this White House is unserious and embarrassing."
Since returning to office on January 20, President Trump has wasted no time ramping up his immigration policies. His administration has issued over 21 executive actions targeting illegal immigration, including tougher enforcement, expanded ICE powers, and stricter border security measures.
The White House has been vocal about its immigration efforts. In January, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images of deportation flights being conducted using military cargo planes, according to the Daily Mail.
Trump’s executive orders have included:
Trump's administration has framed these policies as necessary for national security, but critics argue they are draconian and harmful to vulnerable populations.
While the White House has yet to respond to the backlash over the Valentine’s Day post, the controversy highlights the ongoing political and social divide over immigration in America.
Former President Joe Biden also took to social media on February 14 to share a Valentine's Day post - and it was one in stark contract to the White House's choice.
Taking to X, Trump's predecessor (and former successor) shared a black and white photo of wife Dr. Jill Biden.
In the photo, she is facing away from the camera and wearing a jacket with the word 'LOVE' emblazoned on the back.
The former 82-year-old POTUS captioned the post: "Happy Valentine's Day, Jilly!"
us1 min(s) read
Published 14:41 16 Jul 2019 GMT
A female Border Patrol officer has caused quite a stir on Twitter, after a photo of her providing security for Vice President Mike Pence during his recent border visit surfaced online.
The photo captured the agent standing outside a holding cell, and quickly went viral.
Twitter users were largely in agreement that the officer was particularly attractive, dubbing her "#IceBae".
"Holy s**t! #IceBae is real and she fine AF! WTF?! I think I'm coming down with a case of undocumentation! [sic]" one user wrote.
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"#IceBae could detain me for however long she wants," another wrote.
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"Okay not gonna lie politics aside you gotta admit #IceBae is hot," wrote a third.
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On Monday, a Twitter account belonging to Kiara Cervantes claimed to be that of the Border Patrol officer in question. She referred to the commotion being made over the recent photo in a post on Twitter.
"Soooo it’s crazy.... but here I am," Cervantes wrote. "I’m hearing something about a viral picture. I would like to say i was just doing my job.. providing security for the visit of @VP . It was an honor and I take a lot of pride in my job!"
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She also tweeted a clip to prove that she was, in fact, the officer that everyone had been raving about, writing: "It’s me — I’m a Customs officer based in Texas and yeah, I don’t know what else to say."
Take a look at the aforementioned clip below:
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Some Twitter users took the opportunity to commend Cervantes for her work:
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Others, however, weren't too happy that the attention Ice Bae was receiving was detracting from the ongoing ordeal at detention centres on the southern US border, which is costing American taxpayers a phenomenal $4.5 million a day.
"Feeling cute might separate families at the concentration camp later," one user wrote sarcastically.
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"My job is so hectic at this moment but I am grateful," Cervantes later tweeted, ignoring the outraged commenters. "I love protecting my country! ????❤️ And I love my supporters!"
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In response to a Twitter user who branded Cervantes as "literal sc*m" - adding that she was Hispanic and that her parents would "disown" her - Cervantes wrote: "I think that’s really rude and naive of you to say. You have no idea who my parents are and no idea what goes into my job on a daily basis… before speaking on something you know nothing about…. DONT. Regardless I’m blessed and thankful for the career I have [sic]."
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In another tweet, she explained: "I can’t agree with concentration camps. But… this station, in particular, isn’t meant to be a holding facility hence the overpopulation of aliens. We are doing our best but some people won’t ever understand. They don’t know the daily of what my job consists of [sic]."
us2 min(s) read
Published 09:06 23 May 2018 GMT
A video has gone viral on social media this week, which appears to show a Border Patrol agent unjustly detaining two women, simply because they were speaking Spanish. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of Wednesday May 16, outside a gas station convenience store in the town of Havre, Montana, which stands near the US/Canada border. The footage has already attracted thousands of comments and provoked questions about racial profiling.
The video was captured by Ana Suda and Mimi Hernandez, who were buying some groceries together. Both of the Latina-American women spoke fluent Spanish and had been conversing amicably and civilly while waiting in line with their respective purchases. That was when a uniformed Border Patrol agent interrupted the two and requested to see their IDs. Then he decided to detain them, apparently not satisfied that the two weren't illegal immigrants. The agent asked the two women to follow him to the parking lot, and Suda became so nervous that she began filming the man in question.
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When questioned as to why they had been stopped, the agent admitted it was because he had heard them speaking Spanish. In the video, he can be heard denying any racial profiling, yet still he states: "Ma’am, the reason I asked you for your ID is because I came in here, and I saw that you guys are speaking Spanish, which is very unheard of up here ... It’s the fact that it has to do with you guys speaking Spanish in the store, in a state where it’s predominantly English-speaking." The two women were detained in the parking lot for a further 40 minutes before the agent was sufficiently satisfied to let them both go.
In a later interview, Suda stated: "I was so embarrassed … being outside in the gas station, and everybody’s looking at you like you’re doing something wrong. I don’t think speaking Spanish is something criminal, you know? My friend, she started crying. She didn’t stop crying in the truck. And I told her, 'we are not doing anything wrong' ... It’s a nice town. I don’t think it’s a confrontational [population] here ... But now I feel like if I speak Spanish, somebody is going to say something to me. It’s different after something like this because you start thinking and thinking ... I just don’t want this to happen anymore. I want people to know they have the right to speak whatever language they want. I think that’s the most important part, to help somebody else."
As a result, Suda has announced her intention to contact the American Civil Liberties Union for legal aid, and a representative from Customs and Border Patrol has stated that the agency is reviewing the incident and will investigate any potential wrongdoing.
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