4 minutes read | originally published on September 21, 2024 at 1:40 p.m., modified on April 4, 2025 at 3:06 p.m.
“Get out of here, nigger!” These were the exact words uttered by U.S. Border Patrol agents as they ruthlessly pursued undocumented Haitians who were apparently crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico in search of food on September 21, 2021. The U.S. border agents literally carried whips, concealed hateful insults, and hunted down these “niggers,” who, as these words suggest, were viewed as groups seeking to conquer “El Dorado.” When the news reached the White House, the administration of Joe Biden, represented by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, did not strongly condemn this inhumane and degrading act, but nevertheless spoke out against it.
In recent days, nearly 15,000 migrants, mostly Haitians from Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, have begun the long journey to the “promised land.” This is not a biblical reference, but rather an example of how many begin their search for a new life and a new path after camping under the Del Rio Bridge in Texas in questionable and inhumane conditions. Some families and Good Samaritans from the area attempted to bring essential supplies to Acuna, in the Mexican state of Coahuila, but mounted border guards hunted them like wild animals to prevent them from entering the land of their “masters,” as stigmatized U.S. border officials call it.
They shouted, “Get out immediately and go back to Mexico!”
Photos and videos from major American news outlets reported on “US police officers chasing people last Sunday.” While, in August 2021, more than 120,000 Afghan refugees were evacuated by the US military within just two weeks. This testifies to the authorities’ impartial migration policy. They even adhered to the exact sequence of border controls, regardless of whether they were complete or incomplete and whether the refugees sought to enter legally and in accordance with immigration laws which in some cases meant applying for asylum.
After investigating these incidents, reports emerged of mistreatment of individuals attempting to cross the US border. Many of them were considered a threat to the Border Patrol. This editorial, which summarizes the collected data, does not advocate for any form of misconduct at the border, but rather calls for combating mistreatment and respecting the humanity of all those seeking to enter the country legally.
Some reportedly claim these migrants are victims of a fake news conspiracy. Other rumors suggest that many Haitians seeking entry to the United States are applying for the Joe Biden administration’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. This program is partly due to the political unrest in Haiti and the assassination of former Haitian president Jovenel Moise, and the impact of natural disasters such as the 2010 earthquake and the August 14, 2021 earthquake are also reportedly playing a role.
