Kamala Harris: Border Patrol’s Treatment of Haitian Migrants ‘Evoked’ Slavery, Atrocities Against Native Americans
During an appearance on The View on Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris remarked that the Border Patrol’s treatment of Haitian migrants at the Southern Border “evoked images of some of the worst moments of our history where that kind of behavior has been used against” slaves and indigenous people.
Harris, following a delay as co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro had to leave the set due to testing positive for the coronavirus, was asked by co-host Sara Haines about the “disturbing images” at the border, which appear to show Haitian migrants being confronted by Border Patrol officers on horses, using their reins in what critics interpret as in the manner of a whip.
However, Border Patrol denying that the reins were being used for whipping migrants. On Friday, President Joe Biden said that “an investigation [is] underway now, and there will be consequences” and that those agents “will pay.”
“I’ve been very clear about the images that you and I both saw of those law enforcement officials on horses. I was outraged by it. It was horrible and deeply troubling,” said Harris. “There’s been now an investigation that is being conducted which I fully support and there needs to be consequence and accountability.”
“Human beings should not be treated that way and, as we all know, it also evoked images of some of the worst moments of our history where that kind of behavior has been used against the indigenous people of our country, has been used against African-Americans during times of slavery,” she continued. “And so I’m glad that Ali Mayorkas, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is taking it very seriously.”
Despite the administration deporting Haitian migrants, it has reportedly also been releasing some of them into the United States.
Harris was initially scheduled to be in The View studio, but ended up appearing remotely due to Hostin and Navarro’s positive test. Had Harris appeared in the studio, it would have been her first in-studio interview as vice president.
Watch above, via ABC.
