\n<\/p>\n
The now scandal-plagued Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) once falsely claimed that Border Patrol agents whipped Haitian migrants at the southern border, a review by The Daily Wire found.<\/p>\n
In June 2022, the SPLC released a statement for World Refugee Day, stating that \u201cU.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback infamously chased Black Haitian asylum-seekers with reins raised like a lash.\u201d The false narrative emerged after horseback Border Patrol agents were seen using their reins to maneuver around a horde of Haitian migrants crossing illegally into Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.<\/p>\n
At the time, the agents were outnumbered by a crush of thousands of Haitians that had amassed along the bank of the Rio Grande in a matter of days.<\/p>\n
An internal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) probe found that the agents never whipped migrants.<\/p>\n
Before the investigative findings were released, several prominent Democratic politicians promoted the false narrative as photos and videos of the interaction went viral.<\/p>\n
Then-President Joe Biden called the images \u201coutrageous\u201d and vowed that the agents \u201cwill pay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if a Democrat or Republican is President, our immigration system is designed for cruelty towards and dehumanization of immigrants,\u201d Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said at the time. \u201cImmigration should not be a crime, and its criminalization is a relatively recent invention. This is a stain on our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is so sick and @CBP will continue to commit human rights abuses if we don\u2019t stop it now,\u201d Rep. Rashida Tlaib<\/a> (D-MI) said. \u201cCracking a f\u2014ing whip on Haitians fleeing hardship shows you that this system simply can\u2019t be reformed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUse of whips on refugees? Disturbing and unacceptable,\u201d Sen. Jeff Merkley<\/a> (D-OR) said. \u201cThis must end immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n The Justice Department announced a grand jury indictment against the SPLC, alleging that the left-wing group secretly funneled millions of dollars to white supremacist groups.<\/p>\n The SPLC was charged with 11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to conceal money laundering.<\/p>\n Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the group was \u201cmanufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n