Migrant surge continues to test authorities in south Texas

As the administration grapples with a surge of Haitian migrants on the border, images have surfaced showing U.S. Border Patrol agents riding horses to control the crowd.

As the Biden administration continues to grapple with a surge of Haitian migrants on the border, images have surfaced showing the tactics used by the U.S. Border Patrol agents riding horses to control the crowd around the river.

Video from news outlets Reuters and Al Jazeera appear to show a Border Patrol agent as he snaps his horse's reins in the direction of a migrant who then stumbles back into the Rio Grande. But it's unclear from the video if the agent was simply using his reins to control the horse and prevent it from falling into the water. The agent is seen repeatedly pacing back and forth across the river entrance on horseback.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday that the department is investigating the incident and will respond if needed. At a press conference Monday afternoon, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz defended the use of horseback patrol as a vital tool for law enforcement to maintain visibility in hard-to-reach areas of the border.

"The horse patrol units down here are going to play an integral role in the security response," Ortiz said.