US Border Police Captures and Expels Migrants and Asylum Seekers on Horseback

On the 19th of September 2021, the Border Patrol of the United States of America rode on horseback to control the influx of Haitian immigrants. The images that have appeared on the internet, have given rise to international outrage stating that the US policy is a form of ‘expulsion’ and is “racially discriminatory, abusive, and illegal” (Human Rights Watch 2021). The legal basis of the policy is ‘Title 42’ which seeks to regulate the entry of migrants and potential asylum seekers at the US land border. According to critics, Title 42 primarily targets individuals of African or Latino descent and indigenous people for expulsion from the State. It is henceforth considered discriminatory. Furthermore, the blanket expulsion of individuals without an individual status determination (see the Hirsi Jamaa judgment at the European Court of Human Rights) violates international human rights law. The situation is particularly striking as the US has recognised that Haiti is currently unsafe to return to because of political instability and various human rights violations.