Review finds border patrol on horseback used ‘unnecessary force’ with Haitian migrants last year, but didn’t use ‘whips’

A recent Customers and Border Protection (CBP) review has concluded that Border Patrol used “unnecessary” force and did not follow protocol when dealing with Haitian immigrants close to Del Rio, Texas last year.

CBS News reported that four Border Patrol agents are likely to face disciplinary action. CPB have declined to elaborate on what the possible disciplinary measures will be, citing a potential appeal from the agents.

CBP agents also noted in their report that some of the Border Patrol agents attempted to force the migrants back across the river without doing any due diligence or formally processing them. The CBP noted that this is a violation of US law. Investigators also stated that none of the migrants posed an immediate threat to Border Patrol agents and some were carrying documentation provided by US officials.

“As a result of a lack of command, control, and communication, (horse patrol unit) personnel carried out an operation at the request of (Texas Department of Public Safety) which directly contravened (U.S. Border Patrol) operational objectives and resulted in the unnecessary use of force against migrants who were attempting to reenter the United States with food,” the investigation’s 511-page report said.

One video, which was uploaded to Twitter by John Holman, showed a U.S. Border Patrol agent telling a migrant man who was with women and children, “This is why your country’s sh*t, because you use your women for this.” The agent also appeared to be blocking the man’s path.

The 500-page report did not find any evidence to back-up the claims of migrants that they were whipped with horse reigns.

“[DHS’ Office of Professional Responsibility] found no evidence Border Patrol agents involved in this incident struck anyone with their reins intentionally or otherwise,” CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus said at a press conference, according to CNN. Magnus also stated that none of the Border Patrol officers on duty were carrying whips.

Magnus also stated that horses are likely to remain as they play “a very important part of the Border Patrol’s work,” adding, “They have to do their work in very rough terrain in areas where a horse may be the only way they can access someone in distress.”

“But I think what we’re looking at is, are there other areas where it may not work? Where horse patrol may not be best suited? And one of those areas that we’re looking at are crowd control,” Magnus said.