After viewing the footage, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided the following statement:
DHS does not tolerate the abuse of migrants in our custody and we take these allegations very seriously.
Customs and Border Patrol’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the matter and has alerted the DHS Office of Inspector General.
In addition, Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas has directed that personnel from the Office of Professional Responsibility be on site full-time to ensure that the responsibilities of DHS personnel are executed consistent with applicable policies and training and the Department’s values.
Secretary Mayorkas visited Del Rio today and witnessed the extraordinary work of DHS personnel. The footage is extremely troubling and the facts learned from the full investigation, which will be conducted swiftly, will define the appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken.
We are committed to processing migrants in a safe, orderly, and humane way. We can and must do this in a way that ensures the safety and dignity of migrants.
