multiple media outlet report that The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Texas has barred Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from rescuing a drowning woman and two children from the Rio Grande River.
“One thing is clear: Governor Abbott's political stunt is cruel, inhumane and dangerous.”
Story: https://t.co/olSwd3Ssj3 pic.twitter.com/oc99ZNhxQe
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) January 14, 2024
Verdict: Misleading
Although the woman and two children had already drowned by the time federal authorities contacted Texas authorities, the Texas National Guard prevented Border Patrol agents from entering Shelby Park, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) filing. He reportedly refused. The Texas Department of Military Affairs (TMD) denied that it prohibited CBP from rescuing migrants.
Fact check:
DHS has accused Texas of interfering with CBP's response to the January 13 drowning of three migrants, a woman and two children, in the Rio Grande, according to reports. the hill.
multiple media etc. politiko, new york times (New York Times), Axios, Associated Press (AP), rolling stone and guardian, published an article about the incident. Rolling Stone's headline reads, “Texas Border Patrol physically blocks attempt to rescue drowning migrant.”
However, that did not prevent CBP from rescuing a woman and two children from drowning. According to documents filed by the Department of Justice on January 15, three people were already dead by the time federal authorities reported the situation to Texas authorities. supreme court.
The submission documents read as follows:
“On January 12, 2024, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Mexican authorities notified the Border Patrol that two migrants were in distress near the Shelby Park boat launch on the U.S. side of the river. Apps, Infrastructure, 2a. Mexican authorities also notified the Border Patrol that three migrants, a woman and two children, drowned in the same area around 8 p.m.. A Border Patrol agent went to the Shelby Park entrance gate and They informed Texas National Guard guards stationed there about the drowned and stranded migrants. The guards, who spoke through a closed gate, said they were ordered not to allow Border Patrol to enter the park. Because of this, the deputy director was refused entry.
The filing also confirmed that Texas did not allow CBP officers to enter Shelby Park at the time and that Mexico rescued two other migrants. The state of Texas has physically sealed off Shelby Park and has not allowed CBP access since January 11, the paper said. Austin-American politician.
At the time these articles were published, TMD also denied the claims. TMD said in a statement on January 14th: Claim The department's decision to block CBP's rescue was “totally inaccurate.” (Related article: Did Nikki Haley rank first among governors in Chinese investment in 2015?)
“At the time Border Patrol requested access, a drowning had occurred and Mexican authorities were in recovery of the body, and Border Patrol communicated these facts to TMD personnel on scene,” the statement said. There is. On the night of January 12, TMD soldiers were in direct contact with the Border Patrol when they requested access to Shelby Park. The soldiers confirmed that when the Border Patrol requested access to the park, Mexican authorities said they had already recovered the bodies of two drowned migrants. ”
A DHS spokesperson told Check Your Fact that it “speaks for itself…” referring to the letter the department sent to Texas. January 14thTexas requested that Border Patrol agents be allowed access to Shelby Park, saying the state's closure of the area was “clearly unconstitutional,” according to . CBS News.
“Texas fails to provide access to its borders even in cases of imminent danger to life and safety. “The Border Patrol has indicated that it will not allow them to enter the border,” the letter said.
Check Your Fact reached out to the news organizations that reported on this matter and asked if they would update their recent filings with the Department of Justice. (Did Pope Francis say that Jesus was born during the census by King David?)
NYT spokesperson Naseem Amini told Check Your Facts that he was “reporting the controversy regarding the series of events known at the time,” and directed Check Your Facts to report on the NYT's coverage.
“But the Department of Defense said the migrants were already drowning when Border Patrol agents requested access, adding that claims that Border Patrol prevented them from rescuing them were 'completely inaccurate.'” NYT reported. report.
A NYT spokesperson previously told Check Your Fact in November 2023 that the company “regularly edits web stories to improve stories and add new information, additional context, or analysis.” I'm doing it,” he said. Log changes only if they contain errors. ”
Associated Press spokeswoman Nicole Meir told AP to “Check Your Fact” for follow-up reports.
“The article you flagged is from Sunday. AP The story has been published [Jan. 16] It refers to the Department of Justice’s Monday filing,” Meir said in an email.
Associated Press report:
“Since the drowning incident was made public by South Texas lawmakers on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security and the Texas Department of Military Affairs have provided different timelines for the drowning incident,” according to a Monday filing from the Department of Justice. The incident occurred at 8 p.m. Friday, an hour before U.S. federal officials were notified by federal officials in Mexico. Border Patrol agents said they were aware of two other people in distress in the same area. The application states that he was also aware of the number of immigrants.
A Politico spokesperson told Check Your Fact in an email that the company published “an Associated Press report” and subsequent “follow-up reporting” on the matter.
“Politico” published The Associated Press reported on this matter and also Follow-up report “That includes conflicting schedules between the Department of Homeland Security and the Texas Department of Military Affairs,” the spokesperson said.
david lawlerAxios' director of programming told Check Your Fact in an email that the outlet has “updated the story.”Axios article has been updated to include an editor's note pointing to the Department of Justice filing.
“Editor's note: This story and headline have been revised to reflect new information from the Department of Justice filed in the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, at the time Border Patrol requested access to the area. “Adds additional reporting, including statements from the Texas Department of Military Affairs and the White House,” the editor's note reads.
Check Your Fact has reached out to TMD, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and CBP for comment. Check Your Fact has also reached out to multiple media outlets, including Rolling Stone and the Guardian, for comment and will update this article if we hear back.
Joseph Caiseri contributed to this article.
