President Joe Biden has responded to recent footage of mounted Border Patrol agents chasing, denigrating, and appearing to assault people attempting to cross the border. To end such conduct the administration is banning agents from using horses.
Social media users are having a field day. Most are unconvinced that the horses were the problem.
The footage showed agents in Del Rio, Texas chasing down the immigrants, who are believed to primarily be from Haiti. A massive influx of people had culminated under a bridge in the area. In the footage, agents on horseback cursed at and chased them.
Some footage and images of the chaotic scene led many to believe that the agents were using whips on the people. This claim was amplified by prominent voices on social media, including politicians.
Amid widespread outcry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection subsequently said that the agents were holding reins, not whips, and that they were using them to control their horses.
This was little reassurance to Biden and others horrified by the agents’ conduct. NPR reports that the Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation and placed those involved on administrative leave.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that Border Patrol would also be banned from using horses in Del Rio.
#BREAKING: Jen Psaki announces that horses will now be BANNED from being used in Del Rio by Border Patrol agents, citing the “horrible and horrific” use of them to prevent Haitian illegal immigrants from crossing into the U.S. pic.twitter.com/hlyZeJVbU2
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 23, 2021
Now the administration is being thoroughly mocked for losing sight of the forest for the trees.
“So, to recap, the Biden administration has announced that horses are now racist!” tweeted Curtis Houck.
“The horses weren’t carrying the whips….you know what nvm,” tweeted @HoodClarkKent.
Ah yes, Border agent uses whip on Hatian migrants while on horseback
AdvertisementGovernment response: We’ll just get rid of the horse then https://t.co/KAMfch3qAe
— 𝔍𝔲𝔞𝔫🧚🏼♂️✨ (@illegalqueer) September 23, 2021
Whoa whoa, the problem isn’t riding horses generally–its riding horses *in Del Rio*
— zzfurn (@zzfurn) September 23, 2021
First they came for Mr. Ed, and I said nothing…of course, of course….
AdvertisementAdvertisement— Hank (@The_Real_Hank_) September 24, 2021
finally, an administration with the courage to take down the violent, out-of-control right-wing elements within the US immigration enforcement apparatus: horses https://t.co/Z8uQDUpMt2
— Albert Burneko (@AlbertBurneko) September 23, 2021
TikTokers joined in on the mockery.
The collective social media response to the White House’s solution to what it called the “horrific” conduct of Border Patrol agents: Nay.
Read more about viral politics
*First Published: Sep 24, 2021, 3:42 pm CDT
Claire Goforth
Claire Goforth is an award winning journalist covering politics and justice from her home base in Jacksonville, Florida. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from regional alt-weeklies to the Guardian.