An officer stationed at the southern border of Texas with Mexico recently communicated serious concerns to his superior regarding the treatment of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. The officer, employed by Texas’ Department of Public Safety, described troubling orders to prevent asylum seekers from crossing the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas. State officials have drawn criticism for deploying floating barricades covered in razor wire, which the officer likened to “traps” meant to ensnare migrants.
The email recounts several distressing incidents involving migrants getting caught or injured by the razor wire. For example, a 19-year-old woman, who was later found to be pregnant and experiencing a miscarriage, became stuck in the wire and had to be freed. Another incident involved a man who sustained a significant leg laceration while trying to free his child from a water trap covered in razor wire.
The email also revealed that on June 25, a shift officer ordered troopers to push a large group of people, including small children and nursing babies, back into the Rio Grande. Troopers resisted the order due to concerns over the migrants potentially drowning. Eventually, they were instructed to tell the group to return to Mexico before leaving the site.
The trooper hinted at an order to withhold water from migrants, although Texas officials have denied the existence of any such mandate.
In response to these troubling revelations, the trooper suggested a series of policy changes to prioritize the safety of migrants and reverse the inhumane treatment they are currently experiencing.
Travis Considine, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, acknowledged the email and stated that an audit has been initiated to reduce risks for migrants. Considine also mentioned that Texas Governor Greg Abbott intended for the wire barriers to deter smuggling, not to harm migrants.
Governor Abbott has taken significant measures to prevent migrants from crossing the border, often criticizing President Joe Biden for failing to address the surge in border crossings. Additionally, Abbott has transported thousands of migrants to cities across the country, primarily in states governed by Democrats, a move criticized by human rights groups as inhumane.
The report has prompted swift condemnation from Democrats, with Representative Joaquin Castro referring to the razor wire barriers as “death traps” and urging the Biden administration to intervene for the sake of human rights.
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