‘These children are barefoot. In diapers. Choking on tear gas,’ read one headline in the Washington Post by Tim Elfrink and Fred Barbash. Over Thanksgiving weekend, U.S. CBP agents fired tear gas at a group of migrants — including many small children and babies — seeking asylum in the U.S. “Babies are scared and crying,” wrote journalist Wendy Fry on Twitter.
Border Patrol fired off shots at a group trying to go through the fence. We ran and hid under train. They sent in CS gas. Babies are scared and crying. pic.twitter.com/FCM1DcG2o8
— WendyFry (@WendyFry_) November 25, 2018
The incident occurred on November 25, after the Trump Administration temporarily closed San Ysidro border crossing, the country’s busiest. The White House had also shortly beforehand approved the use of force for troops on the border, which critics called a dangerous precedent that might fail legal muster. The port was closed because, as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said, action was needed “to ensure public safety in response to large numbers of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. illegally” — a highly questionable statement considering that migrants, under international and U.S. law, are supposed to be able to come to the border to seek asylum. (The Trump Administration has turned them away before.) When some migrants protested the border closure, border agents escalated the situation. As EJ Montini wrote at the Arizona Republic, “Real tear gas used on mothers and children at Donald Trump’s fake border crisis.”
The shocking actions of CBP were widely condemned by advocates and politicians alike. Here are some of the tweets from the border and responses from Twitter:
The Tijuana-San Diego border is more like a war zone every day. This is the 4th time in the last 29 minutes that these US military helicopters fly over the port of entry to intimidate refugees. Meanwhile asylum seekers wait in an orderly line.@latinorebels @ConMijente @PuebloSF pic.twitter.com/XciyspDYFK
— Alex Mensing (@alex_mensing) November 24, 2018
My source Jeff Valenzuela who was on the scene during the mayhem at the border with the caravan sent me this photo from when tear gas canisters went off @KPBSnews pic.twitter.com/gBjYbem7S9
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) November 26, 2018
BREAKING US agents have fired tear gas at migrants trying to breach the border between Mexico and the United States.
📷 @Reuters pic.twitter.com/d7fTNnbxxS— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) November 25, 2018
On the scene with tear gas at border courtesy of Jeff Valenzuela @KPBSnews pic.twitter.com/HW2rGhf9Li
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) November 26, 2018
BREAKING A girl from Honduras, part of the migrant caravan in Tijuana, Mexico, cries after US agents in California deployed tear gas across the San Ysidro border.
📷 @Reuters/@topixkim pic.twitter.com/sGs4rjG4Oz— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) November 25, 2018
This woman told me she plans to go back to Honduras with her boys after today’s frightening clash at the border w/ tear gas. She says she never thought entering the US would be like that, so hard & dangerous, and doesn’t want to risk her sons’ lives. @KPBSnews @NPR pic.twitter.com/ttXQI22kHM
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) November 26, 2018
Asking to be considered a refugee & applying for status isn’t a crime.
It wasn’t for Jewish families fleeing Germany.
It wasn’t for targeted families fleeing Rwanda.
It wasn’t for communities fleeing war-torn Syria.
And it isn’t for those fleeing violence in Central America. https://t.co/qhv7Rr1itn— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 25, 2018
This is indefensible. Our government is throwing tear gas at migrants who are trying to apply for asylum. Applying for asylum is legal, and our team in Tijuana has seen first hand that asylum-seekers aren’t storming the gates.https://t.co/WepAoE9l2X
— Families Belong Together (@fams2gether) November 26, 2018
Trump, this is a wicked performance and a rating booster.
Stop this hellish show and abuse of power.
This is life and death for asylum seekers!
This can’t persist.
Seeking. Asylum. Is. Legal.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 26, 2018
I can’t look away from this photo. Families who have desperately fled violence and persecution. To be met with violence and hate at our borders as they peacefully seek asylum is unconscionable and unAmerican. We will not stand for this. https://t.co/rVxDTTNwTz
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) November 26, 2018
Anyone uncomfortable with spraying tear gas on children is welcome to join the coalition of the moral and the sane. We can argue about other stuff when we’ve got our country back.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) November 25, 2018
Our nation is strong enough to treat tired, poor, and huddled women and children yearning to breathe free with respect, order, and compassion.
Our leaders should be strong enough, too. https://t.co/QtXbHFJEQ1
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) November 26, 2018
Shooting tear gas at children is not who we are as Americans. Seeking asylum is not a crime. We must be better than this. https://t.co/Ar4PLlPgmG
— Tom Perez (@TomPerez) November 26, 2018
Here are more reactions.
Here more photos of CBP firing tear gas on mothers and children at the border.
And below are videos, courtesy of journalists Alex Mensing and Jeff Valenzuela via Viri Vidal:
