Immigration advocates are shining a spotlight on weeping migrants at President Donald Trump's restored southern border as Americans seek to reduce record-high support for deportation.
“This is an emotional coercion that affects less informed readers and TV viewers,” said Todd Bensman, an immigration expert at the Center for Immigration Studies. “The media needs to hold those pushing that tactic accountable, just like the rest of the MAGA movement and Donald Trump.”
“I'm not claiming that Americans have hard hearts,” Bensman said, describing the emotionally manipulative reporting as follows:illegitimate porn”
“That’s what I’m advocating for them to do.” [the crying] In context… [because] This is how we create and maintain a civilization of laws and borders.
a washington post The reporter received nearly 40 million views on Twitter for the video.
The video was welcomed by millions of pro-immigration progressives, in part because it was released at a time when President Trump announced a series of border protection policies.
“So they made a promise and were doing things right and they were still locked out?” one person responded. viral tweet From the X account “Mother of the Eagles”. she continued. “How cruel. I think this will be the new normal. Pain and suffering and war.”
Similarly, NPR's Jan. 20 report on Juarez focused on: An immigrant learns She was unable to follow previous migrants across the border because President Trump quickly restored border security for American families.
NPR: Venezuelan immigrant Margelis Tinoco takes a knee. “God, why me?” – she sobs. The CBP One app on her phone says her appointment is no longer valid. She had been waiting for that appointment every day for six months.
MIGRANT: (Speaking Spanish, crying).
NPR: “Lord, have mercy on me,” she said. “Lord, have mercy on my family.” President Biden introduced the app, making it nearly impossible to apply for asylum at the border without it. Its removal shocked the border city, as the app had become something of a lottery ticket for immigrants. Immigrants walked across the city in a daze. Angela Ayala has been waiting for an appointment since leaving Venezuela nearly a year ago.
In fact, Benzman said the video of a woman crying at the border will reduce immigration by showing would-be immigrants that President Trump has restored the border. “The mass migration crisis of the past four years is over. [would-be migrants will see the trek] Now it’s no longer successful,” Bensman said.
This shift will reduce the number of migrant deaths, he added. By the end of 2025, far fewer migrants will be killed, raped or robbed, he said, adding that they “will be at home, safe, healthy and alive.” .
Under the Biden administration, the death rate at the border has doubled to more than 1,000 per year. “I cry every day,” Venezuelan immigrant Yureidi Moreno told a Mexico-based television program. Reuters reporter Early December:
I want to return to my home country. I don't want to be here anymore. I'm in so much pain. It's hard because men treat me poorly. They mistreat us sometimes. Sometimes people die. There is a lot of sexual abuse and women are abused because they don't have money. This is terrible, this is terrible. ”
“The woman crying at the border and all the others you are about to meet will serve a greater people.” [lifesaving] “It’s about purpose,” he said. He added that immigration advocates “don't care about that. They never, ever” about saving lives.
But disturbing images and audio of migrants crying will also weaken support for a secure border, Bensman said. “That's the goal. The goal is not to save people, but to undermine public support for deportation.”
Bensman continued:
There will be a lot of that, and it's up to the American people to treat everything with appropriate skepticism, check the facts, investigate, and use the same terminology as the American media so as not to fall prey to that kind of propaganda. It is the responsibility of the media. You're explaining this — “no evidence” [or] “Couldn't independently confirm” – every time it has to do with what comes out of Donald Trump's mouth or what comes out of MAGA people's mouths.
“The media needs to hold those who promote it.” [false narrative] Just like the people of the MAGA movement and Donald Trump, they take responsibility,” he added.
Most establishment media supports the pro-immigration narrative. For example, Axios.com posted the following poll article: heading, “Americans are in favor of deporting illegal immigrants until they are asked how to do it.” The two reporters said the possibility of lowering sky-high public support for legal repatriation I outlined the drama of a deportation.
In terms of numbers: Two-thirds of all Americans surveyed said they supported it. expulsion of immigrants Those who are staying illegally
…
[But] Only one in three people support separating families or sending people to countries other than their country of origin in favor of speed. And only one in three people support deporting people who came to the United States as children.
The tactic worked during President Donald Trump's first term, when Democrats and the media reported on children crying as he tried to stem a wave of wage-cutting immigration.
But many Americans also cried because Biden imported at least 6 million more illegal immigrants, including criminals and murderers.
After President Trump was elected, public support for immigration enforcement rose to record levels.
According to an Ipsos poll, only 10% of Americans oppose President Trump's promise to deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records. new york times. In contrast, there is broad consensus for a national enforcement campaign, with 87% strongly or “somewhat” supporting deportation.
Only 19 percent of Americans (less than 1 in 5) strongly oppose “deporting all immigrants here.” illegally”, Ipsos poll was also shown. 56% strongly or somewhat support deportation.
Opposition to immigration is intertwined with growing skepticism of the establishment media.
