- The Washington Times - Monday, November 26, 2018

Sen. Brian Schatz deleted a tweet Sunday that questioned whether border patrol agents used “chemical weapons” when they deployed tear gas on a group of migrants trying to cross the southern U.S. border.

Violence broke out at the border in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday when a portion of the 5,000-strong migrant caravan that has has been traveling north through Central America for the past six weeks clashed with border patrol agents at the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry. Tear gas was used against migrants who attempted to cross the border illegally.

Mr. Schatz, Hawaii Democrat, immediately questioned whether using tear gas against the migrants was a legal order and demanded to know who made the call.

One tweet by Mr. Schatz that garnered some attention was one asking whether the U.S. Border Patrol violated an international arms control treaty that prohibits the use of chemical weapons.

“Why tear gas? Is this consistent with the Conventions on Chemical Weapons?” the senator tweeted.

Mr. Schatz later deleted the tweet, saying he didn’t know enough information about the incident to make such a statement. He also defended the act of routinely deleted tweets.

Mr. Schatz argued that it was not only moral but sane to feel “uncomfortable” with the tear-gassing of “unarmed families.”

• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide