Politics

Border Official Corrects Diane Feinstein’s Assertion That Agents Threw Tear Gas At Children

REUTERS/Jim Bourg

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Jason Hopkins Immigration and politics reporter
Font Size:

The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, where he defended his request for a border wall and fielded criticism from the committee’s Democratic members.

At one point during the hearing, Commissioner Kevin McAleenan outright rebuked a claim made by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking committee member, who suggested in a question that border agents threw tear gas at children trying to cross the Mexican border into the United Sates.

“Has CBP ever fired tear gas at young children on the border prior to Nov. 25?” Feinstein asked in her first question to the commissioner.

McAleenan shot down the framing of her question.

“Just to clarify, senator, we did not fire tear gas at young children on Nov. 25, but yes, CS gas has been used to address large groups seeking to enter unlawfully,” the commissioner answered, going on to recall one incident five years ago where CS gas — a defining component for tear gas — was used against a group, including women and children, attempting to enter the country illegally.

Feinstein’s reference to Nov. 25 refers to an incident on Nov. 25 when migrants attempted to illegally cross the American border near Tijuana, Mexico. These migrants were met by border agents, resulting in a viral photo of a mother and her children running away with tear gas in the background.

A migrant family, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, run away from tear gas in front of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico in Tijuana

A migrant family, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, run away from tear gas in front of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico, Nov. 25, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

REFILE - ADDING NAMES: Cheili Nalleli Mejia Meza, a five-year-old migrant girl from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, cries as she holds the hand of her mother, Maria Lila Meza Castro, 39, after they ran away from tear gas released by U.S. border patrol near the border wall between the U.S and Mexico, in Tijuana, Mexico November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Cheili Nalleli Mejia Meza, a 5-year-old migrant girl from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, cries as she holds the hand of her mother, Maria Lila Meza Castro, 39, after they ran away from tear gas released by U.S. border patrol near the border wall between the U.S and Mexico, in Tijuana, Mexico, Nov. 25, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

“First of all, no, our policy does not authorize tear gassing young children, nor did that happen — just to say that again,” McAleenan repeated after Feinstein asked another question that suggested CPB tolerated such a policy.

Feinstein responded by saying she could show him a picture “that was on CNN” to prove her point.

“It’s very unfortunate that women and children were in the vicinity of this large group that was trying to enter the United States. I don’t know that picture accurately tells the full story of the scope of events on that Sunday,” the commissioner stated. (RELATED: I Was Tear-Gassed, Along With 60 Of My Closest Friends, In An Enclosed Space)

Initial media reports centered around the viral photo of a mother and her kids seemingly escaping tear gas — becoming a symbolic picture for critics who believe the Trump administration’s immigration policies are too harsh. However, CBP agents reported that the decision to use tear gas came after many of the migrants threw rocks and bottles at them.

Follow Jason on Twitter

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.