Call to Action Against Border Patrol Abuse of Haitian Immigrants

Robert Jones, Jr. once described Haiti as, ”the only nation on Earth to free itself from the shackles of slavery and that continues to pay the price for that act — as the entire world regards it with untold scorn and shame.”

Monday night, images and videos surfaced of Haitian immigrants being chased and whipped by Border Patrol at the US-Mexican Border near Del Rio, Texas. These disgusting images emanate the dehumanization of Haitian immigrants.

We are disgusted at the actions of the border patrol agents. Not only because this display of cruelty is reminiscent of the treatment of our enslaved ancestors, but also because we cannot even imagine the amount of desperation or despair that drove the Haitian immigrants to the border in the hopes of some sense of freedom.

Many Haitians are coming to the border after living in Chile due to sudden anti-Haitian changes to immigration law, making it harder to get work visas; racism and xenophobia; lack of work opportunities; and language/cultural barriers. Traveling for months to seek asylum, fleeing violence and possibly death – just to be denied basic human rights at the hands of our government.

Although the Department of Justice is currently conducting an investigation and the White House has already criticized the use of “horse reins” to threaten [and whip] Haitian immigrants -- the Black Law Student Association at Texas A&M School of Law demands that: (1) Texas A&M School of Law publicly criticize the actions taken by border patrol; and (2) Governor Greg Abbott recognizes the attached petition that states that Texans will not stand for inhumane treatment of immigrants at the US-Mexican border.

In the meantime, the Black Law Student Association at Texas A&M School of Law is partnering with the Student Bar Association, the Women of Color Collective Law Student Association, the Latinx Law Student Association, the Immigration Law Student Society, the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the Women’s Law Student Association, and OUTLaw to promote and donate to reputable organizations.

However, we cannot be the only ones putting in the work. It is up to the individuals with political backing and support to join us in being the vanguard of change. We ask that if this letter comes across your desk, timeline, or feed -- that you will join us in our efforts to effectuate change.