DEL RIO, Texas — Federal officials call the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border challenging and heartbreaking. Thousands of migrants, mostly from Haiti, are in squalid encampments in Mexico, across the Rio Grande from Del Rio, Texas, hoping to enter the United States. Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas said he was horrified by the recent images of border patrol agents on horseback chasing migrants, swinging long reins near them. He said an investigation has begun.
"One cannot weaponize a horse to aggressively attack a child. That is unacceptable. That is not what our policies and our training require. Please understand, let me be quite clear that is not acceptable, we will not tolerate mistreatment," Mayorkas said.
Mayorkas warned migrants not to enter the U.S. illegally, a plea echoed by the White House. He also said there should be a dramatic change in Del Rio within 48 to 96 hours, as federal authorities work to quickly process and in some cases deport the migrants. However, some Texas Republicans said they have little faith in the administration.
“The only thing they've shown is an incapability of dealing with this crisis candidly in a way where they pretend it doesn't even exist, and we're here to tell you, it exists, it’s total chaos, and the Biden administration, they need to up their game big time," Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday at a press conference during a visit to the border city.
Abbott has also urged the Biden administration to declare a federal emergency declaration in Texas, but he said he has yet to hear back.
Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, just visited Del Rio and called it a "human tragedy." Pfluger said he had the opportunity to speak with migrants there. He told Capital Tonight he believed Homeland Security officials must be more transparent about the number of encounters with migrants.
“That doesn't include getaways, and they don't tell us those numbers. It doesn't include known or suspected terrorists," Pfluger said. "We had policies that were put in place in 2018, 2019, and 2020, that were immediately reversed. Those allowed us to play defense."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was also in Del Rio last week and met with a border patrol officer and said the Biden administration must take responsibility for the situation.
"I saw a strain on resources and a lack of COVID-19 testing because of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ political decision not to enforce our laws and protect the southern border," Cruz said in a statement.
An earthquake and a presidential assassination in Haiti, as well as a decline in job opportunities in Latin America, triggered the migrant surge.
Speaking at an event at the National Press Club, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said he was disappointed the Biden administration has relied on the Trump-era immigration policy known as Title 42. It allows the federal government to treat migrants "out of sight, out of mind." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has also called on the deportation flights to stop.
Some Texas Democrats believe the crisis underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
“It's a very tense situation, and the way that the government can be helpful is to provide the resources to process those folks who are seeking asylum. They have a right to seek asylum in the United States," Castro said.
However, processing thousands of asylum-seekers is a challenge, and federal officials say they're doing what they can to secure the southern border.