America’s Border Crisis vs. Haiti

On various media platforms, there has been videos and photos circulating of Border Patrol agents on horseback clashing with Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas on September 19th, 2021. This caused outrage especially since the agents used whips to try and cluster the attempting refuges which most considered to be excessive use force. This situation has been compared to when slaves in the United States got caught after trying to run away during the era of slavery. 

Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security stated that he was going to do an investigation on the employees with results in a few days, but almost two months later, the Biden administration has yet to announce any disciplinary action to the border agents and has seemingly put the situation on the back burner of his to-do list. 

History shows that the U.S policy towards Haiti has always been corrupt and unequal. To scratch the surface, the country blamed Haiti for the spread of Aids because it happened to be a prominent sex tourism destination.  They assumed that was how the virus got to New York, but research shows that Haiti is not at fault for the rapid spread of the disease. They also dehumanized Haiti by not recognizing them as a sovereign nation once they gained their independence. The United States feared that the slaves within the country would do the same thing and revolt against the government.

Many critics are confused as to why the United States granted 95,000 refugees from Afghanistan to come within the same month but initially denied 86 Haitians who were at the border. Measures could be taken place to accept them in the country, but the government refused to get involved in the situation until the media created awareness. People believed that Afghans deserved to come in the country based on their circumstances but were hoping that Haitians at the border would be allowed on the same playing field. Many believe that the government has not done enough for Haitians and has since called for actions to be taken.

People all over had been hopeful that Biden, who had advocated for a human immigration policy would open the door for Haitian migrants when they crossed into Del Rio but of course, that did not happen. Is Biden at fault?

Now the Border crisis has gotten worse with thousands of Haitians seeking asylum due to government corruption and some getting deported subsequently after. 

Do you believe that this is a problem that the country needs to address?