EBay vendor says cash depicting Haitian migrant incident at border could be offered once again - NPR

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The problem coin depicts the image of last 12 months's incident through which a Border Patrol agent on horseback grabbed a Haitian migrant by using the shirt. Andy Christiansen hide caption

toggle caption Andy Christiansen

The problem coin depicts the photo of ultimate year's incident in which a Border Patrol agent on horseback grabbed a Haitian migrant via the shirt.

Andy Christiansen

A Utah man has discovered himself in the center of an argument this week over a collection of challenge coins he sold on eBay that includes a stunning photograph.

The cash depict the now-infamous, precise-lifestyles picture of a Border Patrol agent chasing down Haitian migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border last September.

unless he hears otherwise from authorities, the seller, Andy Christiansen, informed NPR that he still has about 20 cash left and intends on placing them up on the market once again.

"it be strictly a enterprise for me," he advised NPR over the mobile. And it's apparently a popular one at that.

as soon as the eBay listing of this particular coin made its rounds, Christiansen mentioned, it was "flying off the shelf" at one aspect. hobby became huge enough to inflate the can charge of 1 coin to pretty much $500.

notwithstanding the cash are emblazoned with "U.S. Border Patrol" and phrases like "You can be returned" and "Reining it in on account that can also 28, 1924" (the date the Border Patrol changed into established), the company's management maintains it isn't an respectable Customs and Border insurance plan (CBP) coin.

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop Haitian migrants from getting into an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande in Texas on Sept. 19, 2021. A coin with an image of the agent grabbing the person by means of the shirt become these days on sale on eBay. Paul Ratje/AFP by the use of Getty images cover caption

toggle caption Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty photographs

A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop Haitian migrants from coming into an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande in Texas on Sept. 19, 2021. A coin with a picture of the agent grabbing the person through the shirt was lately on sale on eBay.

Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty photos

"These coins anger me since the hateful photos on them have no region in knowledgeable law enforcement agency," CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus talked about in a statement to NPR. "those who make or share these deeply offensive coins detract and distract from the terribly problematic and sometimes life-saving work Border Patrol agents do daily throughout the nation."

An agency spokesperson advised NPR that the company's workplace of knowledgeable accountability is investigating even if anyone at CBP is selling this coin.

The spokesperson added in a statement, "The CBP office of Chief counsel (OCC) will additionally ship a cease-and-desist letter to any dealer who produces unauthorized problem coins the use of one in every of CBP's trademarked brands."

CBP had indicated this week that it became investigating the foundation of the coins. So following these statements, Christiansen took the eBay posting down in the interim.

however as of Friday afternoon, he instructed NPR, he had yet to listen to the rest from any investigators. he's planning on reselling the 20 or so cash he has left except he hears from CBP or other authorities. A problem coin is a kind of small medallion that bears a company's or community's insignia, and it's usually carried through its participants. participants of the defense force commonly have these cash.

Christiansen mentioned he isn't the manufacturer of these cash; the person or company that ordered or manufactured these cash continues to be a mystery.

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a photograph of the coin offered by using Andy Christiansen Andy Christiansen disguise caption

toggle caption Andy Christiansen

a photograph of the coin bought through Andy Christiansen

Andy Christiansen

in response to Christiansen, the packaging he bought the coins in after purchasing them at public sale became clear and had no markings or indication of the cash' beginning.

He runs a enterprise in Utah that buys at public sale gadgets that have been lost or damaged during delivery by way of FedEx or the U.S. Postal carrier. that is how he got here into possession of the cash — jumbled together a box with other problem coins, Christiansen pointed out. He observed he was blind to the that means of what turned into depicted on the cash.

Christiansen noted he is nevertheless mystified by way of the scene the cash depict.

"it be no longer that i am making an attempt to be indifferent. i'm uneducated on that situation. And for me to say the rest can be silly," he observed. He delivered that he doesn't have any political opinion on it both manner.

The backstory

The dramatic scene that the coin depicts took area ultimate 12 months when a huge number of migrants were trying to move the U.S.-Mexico border.

at the time, thousands of migrants — together with many Haitians — tried to cross into the U.S. from Mexico. it really is when Border Patrol agents used their horses to are attempting to show them returned. Video of this certain conflict caught an agent using his horse's long reins to dam a person from getting into the U.S., making many trust he changed into whipping the man.

country wide U.S. Border agents Chased Migrants On Horseback. A Photographer Explains What He noticed

And in greatly considered photographs — now depicted on these specific challenge coins — an agent lunged from his saddle to seize a person by using the shirt.

Following this incident, Border Patrol talked about it launched an investigation and changed its policies regarding the use of horses at that Texas border crossing. The White condominium additionally strongly condemned these brokers' moves.

since information of these cash made headlines, Christiansen has received feedback both supportive and important of his choice to sell them.

He examine one comment he got that talked about, "just wanted to say every body here in Phoenix, Arizona, completely cherished the CBP horseback challenge coin." The adult went on to say, "we would have liked to buy one."

He has additionally obtained some messages "chastising" him for placing them up for sale.

He become unfazed with the aid of these comments and said, "everyone's got a correct to their opinion."