An Associated Press journalist who witnessed the interaction between mounted Border Patrol agents and migrants in Del Rio, Texas, released video on Friday further debunking the lie that Border Patrol agents “whipped” migrants.
What does the video show?
The footage, captured by Associated Press journalist Sarah Blake Morgan, shows that mounted Border Patrol agents did not use ropes, lassos, whips, or any other device against migrants.
The video confirms that Border Patrol agents were holding the reins used to control their horses as they were corralling migrants.
“Sorting through my footage from the border. I was in the river during the viral incident between a Haitian migrant and mounted CBP agent. It’s shaky — but here’s what I captured,” Morgan explained on Twitter.
Sorting through my footage from the border. I was in the river during the viral incident between a Haitian migrant… https://t.co/qkEd61emyp
— Sarah Blake Morgan (@Sarah Blake Morgan)1632503569.0
Top Democrats and the media claimed all week that the mounted Border Patrol agents were guilty of abusing migrants encamped in Del Rio, Texas. The only evidence were photographs that lacked the context required to make a definitive judgement about what happened between the Border Patrol agents and migrants.
Vice President Kamala Harris called the incident “horrible” and demanded a swift investigation. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) described the incident as “worse than what we witnessed in slavery.” President Joe Biden even suggested retaliatory action against the mounted Border Patrol agents on Friday, promising they “will pay” for their actions.
The mounted Border Patrol agents involved in the controversy have been reassigned to “administrative duty” pending the outcome of an investigation.
What did the photographer say?
The photographer who captured the infamous photographs of the mounted Border Patrol agents and migrants has spoken out about the incident.
Photojournalist Paul Ratje told KTSM-TV he did not witness what outraged Democrats have claimed.
“Some of the Haitian men started running, trying to go around the horses,” he recalled. “That’s kind of when the whole thing happened. I didn’t ever see them whip anybody.”
“He was swinging it, but I didn’t see them actually whip someone with it,” Ratje explained. “That’s something that can be easily misconstrued when you’re looking at the picture.”