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U.S. NEWS Saturday 9 July 2022
Report finds ‘unnecessary’ force by agents at Rio Grande

By WILL WEISSERT ministrative duty since the
Associated Press investigation began, ac-
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. cording to senior agency
Border Patrol agents on officials who briefed report-
horseback engaged in ers before Friday's report
"unnecessary use of force" was released.
against non-threatening Mark Morgan, a former
Haitian immigrants but acting CBP commissioner
didn't whip any with their under Trump, dismissed
reins "intentionally or other- the entire investigation as
wise," according to a fed- politically motivated since
eral investigation of chaot- no Haitians were actually
ic scenes along the Texas- whipped.
Mexico border last fall that "From the start, these agents
sparked widespread con- have been smeared, lied
demnation. about, and vilified by nearly
In a 511-page report re- everyone on the left," Mor-
leased Friday, Customs and gan said in a statement.
Border Protection blamed Federal investigators said
a "lack of command con- no migrant was struck with
trol and communication" a whip, forced to return
for mounted agents using to Mexico or denied entry
their horses to forcibly block Mounted U.S. Border Patrol agents attempt to contain migrants as they cross the Rio Grande from into the U.S. during the ap-
and move migrants during Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, into Del Rio, Texas, Sept. 19, 2021. proximately 15 minutes that
an influx of Haitians arriv- Associated Press they were forcibly blocked
ing last September at the tion tactics under President marred the investigation, testimony from more than and moved by mounted
U.S. border outside Del Rio, Donald Trump. Magnus said "it was inevi- 30 people, among them agents. One agent yelled
Texas. A former police chief, Mag- table, certainly not surpris- witnesses and journalists. In- inappropriate comments
"We're gonna learn from nus took over the nation's ing, that there was going to vestigators said they were about a migrant's national
this incident and we'll find largest law enforcement be a reaction to that from unable to locate Haitian origin including, "You use
a way to do better," CBP agency in December and the community, from those migrants involved to get your women" while also
Commissioner Chris Mag- is being watched closely in the media from elected their accounts — but used narrowly missing crashing
nus said during a news for shepherding the ongo- officials, from different ad- statements and court doc- his horse into a child walk-
conference announcing ing investigation. Home- vocacy groups." uments that some provided ing nearby while pursuing a
the report. "Not everyone's land Security Secretary But he said he instructed in- as part of lawsuits they filed migrant.
going to like all the findings Alejandro Mayorkas said vestigators "that all of these against U.S. authorities. Agents acted with the per-
but the investigation was in a statement Friday that things were to be put aside, Magnus said four Border mission of their supervisor,
comprehensive and fair." "the organizational failures to be disregarded." Patrol personnel have been who was unable to get
Video and photos of the of policy, procedures, and "I was counting on them to recommended for disci- guidance from higher up
incident made it appear training that the investiga- do a fair, through, compre- plinary action for their con- the Border Patrol chain of
agents were whipping tion identified were a dis- hensive investigation with duct, though he declined command, the report said.
Haitians, which caused service to the agents and no attention to this outside to discuss exactly what Communication occurred
outrage among advoca- the public they serve." influence," Magnus said. each had done to war- on a radio channel that
cy groups and civil rights Last fall, Biden called imag- By September 19, 2021, rant possible punishment, wasn't recorded, further
leaders. The Biden admin- es of what occurred "hor- around 15,000 Haitian mi- or elaborate on what sanc- complicating investigation
istration promised a full in- rible" and "outrageous." grants had crossed from tions they could face. That into the incident.
vestigation after many in "I promise you, those peo- Mexico into the United comes after prosecutors The use of force drove mi-
the president's own party ple will pay," the president States and were concen- in April declined to pursue grants back into the Rio
objected that such tactics said then. "There is an in- trated in an encampment criminal charges, he said. Grande, despite their hav-
with racial overtones were vestigation underway right underneath the interna- Disciplinary actions are sep- ing been well within U.S.
the kinds of policies the now and there will be con- tional bridge. arate from Friday's findings territory and not presenting
U.S. was supposed to be sequences." Magnus said the investiga- and won't be announced threats — which was coun-
moving away from after Asked if the politically tion began the day after until later. All four CBP of- ter to CBP's mission, the re-
years of hardline immigra- charged environment the incident and included ficials have been on ad- port found.q

Feds nudge airlines to let families sit together on planes

By The Associated Press cially those traveling with children, and will con- The department said Friday that airlines could
The Transportation Department on Friday urged tinue to do so." do several things to help relatives sit together
airlines to make it easier for families to sit togeth- The Transportation Department said it has re- including assigning adjacent seats at booking
er on planes at no extra charge. ceived more than 500 complaints in the last or setting aside areas for families.
The department said in a notice to airlines that five years about families unable to sit together. Increasingly, airlines charge extra for desirable
the carriers "should do everything that they However, that is only about 1% of all complaints seats to boost revenue. The 2016 law does not
can to ensure the ability of a young child" 13 or against airlines and is dwarfed by gripes about require them to make seat assignments that
younger to sit next to an older family member. refunds and flight problems. would upgrade a passenger to a better cabin
The agency said it will monitor airlines starting in In 2016, Congress prodded airlines to let kids sit or seat if there is an extra charge for that seat.
November and might propose new regulations. next to a family member at no extra charge, The department also issued a bill of rights for
The trade group Airlines for America said car- but the Trump administration Transportation De- airline passengers with disabilities, a summa-
riers "have always worked to accommodate partment did not draft rules on the matter, and ry of existing laws that travelers can use as a
customers who are traveling together, espe- neither has the Biden administration. reference.q