From News Nation:
“Photographer behind
controversial migrant photos claims agents weren’t whipping anyone”
The photographer behind
now-famous images depicting Border Patrol agents on horseback appearing to
chase migrants with whips says things are not exactly what they seem when it
comes to his photos. The photographs, which were taken Sunday, appear to show
agents on horses with whips in hand. The photos caused outrage, as they appear
to show Border Patrol agents whipping migrants from certain angles. But
photographer Paul Ratje said he and his colleagues never saw agents whipping
anyone. “Some of the Haitian men started running, trying to go around the
horses,” Ratje said. Ratje is a photographer based in Las Cruces, and has been
in Del Rio since Friday. He said took the photographs from the Mexican side. “I’ve
never seen them whip anyone,” Ratje said. “He was swinging it … but it can be
misconstrued when you’re looking at the picture.”
The migrant camp, under a bridge
spanning the Rio Grande, became the latest flashpoint for U.S. authorities
seeking to stem a flow of migrants fleeing gang violence, extreme poverty and
natural disasters in their home countries. The incident prompted widespread
outrage, and is currently under investigation. The agents have been assigned to
administrative duties and the Department of Homeland Security said it has
suspended the use of horses in Del Rio. The photos drew immense criticism from
many on social media, and the White House said it will investigate. White House
press secretary Jen Psaki called images “horrific.” Vice President Kamala
Harris was also asked about the photos and called them deeply troubling. Harris
also said there will be a thorough investigation into how agents are treating
migrants. The migrant camp has shrunk considerably since surpassing more than
14,000 people on Saturday, with many of them expelled and many others released
in the U.S. with notices to report to immigration authorities. Only 225
migrants remained in the camp where almost 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants had
gathered just days ago hoping to seek asylum, the top elected official in Val
Verde County said Friday. County Judge Lewis Owens told The Associated Press in
a text message that he’s been told all of the migrants will be removed by the
end of day on Friday — a dramatic change last week, when the number peaked as
migrants driven by confusion over the Biden administration’s policies and
misinformation on social media converged at the border crossing between Del
Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico.
^ This just goes to show you that
a picture isn’t the full story. Biden and everyone else should have known that
and waited for the facts to come out instead of simply writing the Border
Agents off. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.