The Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) had a field day Thursday in the wake of the deportation of a Mexican woman, Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, from Phoenix, Arizona. “An undocumented woman at the center of an immigration uproar has now been deported after 21 years living in the U.S., she was arrested yesterday and shipped back to Mexico today,” announced anchor Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News, “Now the family she leaves behind is voicing their outrage and pointing fingers at the president.”
CBS and NBC glorified the efforts of protesters who threw themselves in front of the government vehicles used to transport de Rayos. “Emotions erupting in front of a Phoenix ICE office. Protesters trying to stop a van … This man over here that you're going to see, he wedged himself inside of this wheel well,” touted NBC’s, Gadi Schwartz.
According to their reports, de Rayos first got picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a raid on a water park. They discovered that she used a fake social security number in order to get hired, and was subsequently convicted of a felony.
They were all eager to praise former President Barack Obama for allowing her to stay illegally despite her status. “Well, Carter Evans found a woman caught by this order who had been allowed to remain in Phoenix under president Obama's immigration policy,” said anchor Scott Pelley during the lead-in to Evan’s report.
And they were even happier to browbeat the current president for going through with a campaign promise. “She has been deported, and this has been one of the first victim of President Trump,” declared an “activist” to the press. “Now the family she leaves behind is voicing their outrage and pointing fingers at the president,” declared Holt. “She was allowed to stay in the U.S. because she wasn't considered a security threat, but under new rules, President Trump has made any criminal offense criteria enough for deportation,” bemoaned Evans.
“ICE saying it was the result of a 2013 deportation order and they could continue to ‘focus on identifying and removing individuals with felony convictions,’” Schwartz mentioned (and was the only one to do so), “The family believes it's the result of President Trump's executive order.” But the connection Schwartz failed to make is: since she was deported by a 2013 order it means that Obama was the one behind it.
That information was not given exclusively to NBC, it was a part of a statement released to the press.
But facts mean little when you can play on the emotions of your viewers while using de Rayos’s children like props. “Next to de Rayos’ window, her two American-born children, struggling to stay strong for their mother,” Schwartz exclaimed. “14-year-old Jacqueline just wants her mom to return home,” reported Evans sorrowfully. “Behind them mothers with children. These women told us they are scared too but had to stand together,” Schwartz noted to close out his report.
Transcripts below:
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NBC Nightly News
February 9, 2017
7:11:42 PM EasternLESTER HOLT: In Arizona, an undocumented woman at the center of an immigration uproar has now been deported after 21 years living in the U.S., she was arrested yesterday and shipped back to Mexico today. Now the family she leaves behind is voicing their outrage and pointing fingers at the president. NBC’s Gadi Schwartz has details.
[Cuts to video]
PROTESTERS: Shame on you.
GADI SCHWARTZ: Emotions erupting in front of a Phoenix ICE office. Protesters trying to stop a van carrying 36-year-old Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, who is being deported to Mexico.
This man over here that you're going to see, he wedged himself inside of this wheel well.
Next to de Rayos’ window, her two American born children, struggling to stay strong for their mother. Her family says seven years ago de Rayos made up a social security number on a job application so she could work. She was charged with a felony and detained for six months before being released and told to check in with ICE regularly, which she did.
But on Wednesday's check-in, this she was taken into custody. ICE saying it was the result of a 2013 deportation order and they could continue to “focus on identifying and removing individuals with felony convictions.” The family believes it's the result of President Trump's executive order. The Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton calling this a travesty, tweeting, “ICE is spending its energy deporting a woman with two American children who poses a threat to nobody.”
Today the de Rayos family is speaking out.
JACQUELINE DE RAYOS: I'm going to keep on fighting for my mom and the other families.
SCHWARTZ: Behind them mothers with children. These women told us they are scared too but had to stand together. Gadi Schwartz, NBC news, Phoenix.
...
CBS Evening News
February 9, 2017
6:39:36 PM EasternSCOTT PELLEY: One of the president's recent orders prioritizes the deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. Well, Carter Evans found a woman caught by this order who had been allowed to remain in Phoenix under president Obama's immigration policy.
[Cuts to video]
CARTER EVANS: A crowd of angry protesters tried to prevent Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos from being deported. One even tied himself to the police van, but it was futile. Activist Carlos Garcia delivered the news.
CARLOS: GARCIA: She has been deported, and this has been one of the first victim of President Trump.
EVANS: Rayos has been living in the U.S. illegally for more than 20 years. She has two children who are U.S. citizens. She was arrested after reporting on Wednesday for her six-month check-in at the Phoenix immigration office. Aaron Rayos, is her husband of 17 years. Do you wish now that she hadn’t have gone?
AARON DE RAYOS: No, she made the right decision. We are good citizens and she was a good citizen. And as a good citizen she decided to show up.
EVANS: In 2008, Rayos was arrested in a local water park where she worked and found guilty of using a fake social security number. She was allowed to stay in the U.S. because she wasn't considered a security threat, but under new rules, President Trump has made any criminal offense criteria enough for deportation.
RAY MALDONADO: All she was doing was trying to work to support herself, support her children.
EVANS: Her lawyer, Ray Maldonado says the new rules could easily apply to many other immigrants. So you're saying this will push people into hiding.
MALDONADO: Undoubtedly it will push people into hiding. If they know there's a chance of them being deported, who is going to show up.
EVANS: 14-year-old Jacqueline just wants her mom to return home. Do you think she'll be back here some day?
JACQUELINE DE RAYOS: I hope so.
[Cuts back to live]
EVANS: In a statement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Rayos had no legal basis to remain here in the U.S. And, Scott, the agency says it's going to focus on continuing to identify other felons like Rayos, and deport them.
PELLEY: Carter Evans in Phoenix. Carter, thanks.
