The Hoax

Border Patrol Agents Whipped Migrants

In September 2021, a controversy erupted over photos and videos showing border patrol agents on horseback managing Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas. Misinterpreted images led to widespread claims that agents were whipping migrants, a narrative that quickly gained traction and fueled public outrage.

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What Really Happened

Border Agents Never Whipped Migrants

Migrants were never whipped. Media outlets and some Democratic figures alleged that the agents were whipping the migrants. However, a closer examination of the footage revealed that the agents were using long reins to control their horses, not to whip the migrants.

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Hoaxology | How The Hoax Was Made

Here’s how this hoax was made.

Selective Framing

The hoax was created through selective framing of the images and videos. Photos were taken at angles that made it difficult to discern that the agents were holding reins, not whips.

Accompanying the images were headlines and social media posts that sensationalized the incident, asserting that agents were “whipping” migrants. This narrative quickly spread across various platforms, further cementing the false interpretation in the public’s mind.

Strategic Ambiguity

The media used strategic ambiguity by presenting the images with vague or inflammatory language that led audiences to a specific, yet incorrect, conclusion without making explicitly false statements. This approach amplified the perceived severity of the situation, fostering outrage and misinformation

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