Trump Administration Responds to “60 Minutes” Deportation Story

The Trump administration has expressed skepticism over a recent “sob story” aired by “60 Minutes,” which aimed to challenge the mass deportation measures enacted during the president’s second term.

The segment, which aired on Sunday, showcases the hardships faced by the family of Moussa Diawara, a man who was deported in July at the age of 57. Diawara claims he returned to Mali, his homeland. The emotional piece features interviews with his wife, son, and daughter, who are still living in Texas.

A judge had deemed in 2012 that Diawara could be deported due to an overstayed visa, but he argued against being sent back to Mali, citing fears of persecution there. Initially, he was deported to Ghana, and according to him, was subsequently sent to Mali by Ghanaian authorities.

During his interview with “60 Minutes,” Diawara mentioned his worries about facing persecution in Mali, where he believes he could be targeted for converting to Christianity. He eventually fled to another African nation, which he requested CBS not to disclose.

Although the segment seemed crafted to garner audience sympathy, it faced pushback from James Percival, general counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who appeared in the piece.

Percival tweeted that Diawara had been portrayed as a “poster child” for what “60 Minutes” claimed were wrongful deportations. He noted that after reviewing Diawara’s records, it became clear that Diawara’s application for protection was based on his assertion that he was “gay,” highlighting a broader issue of immigration fraud.

This contradiction raised eyebrows, as Percival suggested the family’s emotional narrative seemed at odds with the father’s assertions about fearing persecution.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) echoed Percival’s sentiments in a statement, emphasizing the inconsistencies in the story while poking fun at the news program.

“The 60 Minutes sob story tonight highlighted an illegal alien and his wife and two children. One problem: the illegal alien claimed he was a HOMOSEXUAL to dodge deportation to Mali,” the statement read, adding a note of incredulity: “You literally cannot make this up.”

While “60 Minutes” acknowledged on social media that the DHS had “questioned the credibility of Diawara’s claims of fearing persecution,” specific details were not elaborated on.

Percival reaffirmed his belief that third-country removals improve public safety, stating, “I absolutely believe with all of my heart that these third-country removals have stopped crimes from happening and kept Americans safer.”

The report mentioned that around 25,000 individuals deported from the U.S. were sent to nations other than their country of origin.