When the Biden administration allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country, mainstream networks largely overlooked the figures. Officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, maintained that there was “no border crisis,” a stance that went largely unchallenged. Instead, it was labeled a Republican “stunt,” with CBS Morning host Gayle King criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for sending immigrants to Chicago, Martha’s Vineyard, and Washington, D.C., calling it “inhumane.”
In contrast, when the Trump administration aimed for mass deportations and deployed the National Guard to protect ICE facilities from aggressive protesters, network coverage framed it as harsh and authoritarian. Attacks on ICE, including several shootings in Texas driven by protests, didn’t spark significant controversy, as these actions were framed within the enforcement of immigration laws.
Democrats seem to be trying to change the narrative around “states’ rights” as they push back against Trump’s national security strategies. Rarely do networks cover polls on immigration, but a recent New York Times survey indicated that 54% of registered voters support the deportation of illegal immigrants, consistent with earlier data. A vast majority of Republicans, about 52% of independents, and nearly 20% of Democrats were in favor of mass deportation.
Despite some governors and senators likening Trump to Hitler and ICE to the Gestapo during friendly network interviews, Democrats seem to be out of step with public opinion. On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” host Margaret Brennan did not fact-check the description of ICE actions by Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, nor did she address whether such rhetoric might incite violence against ICE personnel.
This is the same moderator who fact-checked J.D. Vance regarding immigrant numbers during last year’s vice-presidential debate and outright muted him when he raised a challenge.
Pritzker sues Trump over National Guard deployment in Illinois
Since the immigration enforcement ramped up in the Chicago area last month, over 1,000 immigrants have been detained. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has criticized President Trump’s approach, describing cities as “war zones” as ICE and the National Guard became active, dismissing comparisons to Hitler.
According to CBS Mornings, Pritzker stated on social media following the Texas National Guard’s arrival in Chicago that “Donald Trump is not the king and his administration is not above the law.” This sentiment raises the question of who is above the law—illegal immigrants or the president. Increasingly, Democrats argue that expulsions are inherently unjust.
The Supreme Court’s decision to block Trump’s National Guard deployment drew no backlash, even as NBC reported Biden-appointed Judge April Perry arguing that such actions would simply “add fuel to the fire.”
On “CBS Evening News Plus,” anchor John Dickerson described Trump’s actions as unconstitutional, asserting, “A president who honors the Constitution is concerned not just with public safety but also with liberty.” He challenged whether Trump views his opponents as citizens or merely enemies. Does he only resort to force when all else fails, or is that his first instinct? What if the president himself is the source of chaos?
Some believe that violence aimed at Trump is somehow his fault. But can Dickerson recognize that many of these “opponents” aren’t even citizens? In public protests, illegal immigrants opposing Trump are often portrayed as heroes.
On ABC’s “The View,” co-host Joy Behar advanced a theory suggesting Trump’s deployment of the National Guard is a pretext to halt future elections, a statement that wasn’t seen as incitement to violence, despite such claims seemingly contributing to assassination attempts in the past year.
Not all media outlets have joined in the confrontation. NBC News, for instance, provided a surprisingly positive report on conditions at the border, with reporter Julia Ainslie noting that the flow of immigrants had dramatically decreased due to Trump’s policies. Instead of 2,000 immigrants daily as seen during the Biden administration in Eagle Pass, Texas, now only around 20 are encountered. Ainslie also showcased two Latino Texans expressing satisfaction for their choice to vote for Trump based on improvements at the border.
Yet, popular programs do not seem aimed at Trump supporters; they appear more tailored for staunch Democrats and the uninformed. The expectation seems to be that audiences will accept the narrative that illegal immigrants are simply “neighbors” and that the real lawbreakers are the Trump administration and the National Guard.
