US official calls Haitian treatment of migrants an ‘injustice’

A U.S. official on Friday apologized for how the country has treated Haitian migrants, calling it an “injustice.”

Juan Gonzalez, senior director for the Western Hemisphere for the U.S. National Security Council, made the comments during a visit to Haiti, according to The Associated Press. 

According to the outlet, Gonzalez said that the people of Haiti deserved to be treated with “dignity.”

“I want to say that it was an injustice, that it was wrong,” Gonzalez said. “The proud people of Haiti and any migrant deserve to be treated with dignity.” 

Gonzalez is on a two-day official visit to Haiti with U.S. assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols, according to the AP.

Haiti has been devastated this year by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake within weeks of each other.

The Biden administration came under intense backlash late last month after thousands of Haitian migrants crowded under a bridge on the border in Del Rio.

Democrats had pleaded with the Biden administration to halt deportations under Title 42, a controversial policy allowing for deportations without allowing for asylum.

Images of border patrol agents on horseback grabbing at migrants only added to the outrage. Last week, President Biden acknowledged that the scenes at the U.S.-Mexico border were “an embarrassment.”

“To see people treated like they did, horses barely running them over and people being strapped. It was outrageous. I promise those people will pay,” Biden said.

As of last week, the Del Rio camp has been completely cleared.