Over the weekend, CNN viewers several times got to see a pre-recorded piece in which reporter Rosa Flores rode with a liberal activist in Chicago who helps illegal aliens hide from ICE by delivering food to their homes.
The report first aired on Saturday afternoon with weekend host Fredricka Whitfield setting it up thusly: "While President Trump is making good on his promise to deport undocumented migrants, volunteers across the country are working to make sure those hiding from law enforcement are getting fed. CNN's Rosa Flores rides along with one of those volunteers in Chicago."
As Flores was seen riding with a woman whom she identified as "Sam," the CNN reporter was heard noting in a voiceover that her identity was being kept hidden: "Sam is not her real name. She asked CNN not to reveal her identity for fear of retaliation."
Another voiceover soon filled in viewers:
ROSA FLORES: She volunteers to deliver groceries to undocumented migrant families, many seeking asylum, in the Chicago area, who have stopped going to work, to school, and to the store for fear of deportation. Every delivery costs $80 to $100. Sam says she has made up to 15 deliveries since Trump took office.
Then came a clip of the two of them speaking during the ride:
FLORES (to Sam): So some of these families that you visit haven't left their homes since Trump took office?
SAM: Yes.
FLORES: Since Inauguration Day?
SAM: Yeah.
Flores then noted that Sam has been receiving more requests for food deliveries since ICE began its recent raids in Chicago: "Sam says her nonprofit has received dozens of requests from migrant families since the ICE enforcement blitz started. Chicago police say more than 100 people have been arrested in the metro area. This day, Sam's meeting a Venezuelan mom of three teens."
The CNN reporter was then seen speaking with one of the women who received groceries:
FLORES (voiceover): This Venezuelan mother was waiting outside. She doesn't want us to use her real name. She arrived in the U.S. 17 months ago seeking asylum.
FLORES (speaking to unidentified woman): So you've been in your apartment for two weeks? (asks question in Spanish and then translates) Do you send your family to school?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: No.
The report concluded with Sam discussing her fears of her own son being targeted by ICE even though both she and her son are U.S. citizens. At no point was it questioned whether such activity helping illegal aliens to stay hidden from ICE violates the law...or whether some of the hidden have criminal convictions.
The report was repeated on Sunday's CNN This Morning Weekend and again on Sunday afternoon.
Transcripts follow:
CNN Newsroom
February 1, 2025
3:24 p.m. Eastern
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: While President Trump is making good on his promise to deport undocumented migrants, volunteers across the country are working to make sure those hiding from law enforcement are getting fed. CNN's Rosa Flores rides along with one of those volunteers in Chicago.
ROSA FLORES (voiceover): What might appear to be a simple case of extreme stockpiling is actually the preamble to an emotional day.
FLORES: (sitting in a car speaking with the driver): Sam, first of all, thank you so much for doing this.
FLORES (voiceover): Sam is not her real name. She asked CNN not to reveal her identity for fear of retaliation.
FLORES (to Sam): Could you tell us where we're going?
SAM: To an apartment to drop off groceries for a mother and three children. They only have enough groceries for the day, and then, after that, it is bare cabinets, empty fridge.
FLORES (voiceover): She volunteers to deliver groceries to undocumented migrant families, many seeking asylum, in the Chicago area, who have stopped going to work, to school, and to the store for fear of deportation. Every delivery costs $80 to $100. Sam says she has made up to 15 deliveries since Trump took office.
FLORES (to Sam): So some of these families that you visit haven't left their homes since Trump took office?
SAM: Yes.
FLORES: Since Inauguration Day?
SAM: Yeah.
FLORES (voiceover): Sam says her nonprofit has received dozens of requests from migrant families since the ICE enforcement blitz started. Chicago police say more than 100 people have been arrested in the metro area. This day, Sam's meeting a Venezuelan mom of three teens.
FLORES (to Sam): So we're pretty close. What's usually your plan?
SAM: So usually I will notify them on WhatsApp that I'm outside.
FLORES: What touches your heart the most?
SAM: The fact that our site is feeding into this propaganda that it's criminals, and yet what I'm seeing is that it's families.
FLORES (voiceover): Families like hers, she says. Sam's mom is Mexican American -- her dad is indigenous. She says she sees herself in the children of the mothers she serves.
SAM: It is very emotional work. If we're not stepping up, no one is feeding these families.
FLORES (voiceover): This Venezuelan mother was waiting outside. She doesn't want us to use her real name. She arrived in the U.S. 17 months ago seeking asylum.
FLORES (speaking to unidentified woman): So you've been in your apartment for two weeks? (asks question in Spanish and then translates) Do you send your family to school?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: No.
FLORES: No. (woman then speaks Spanish) Why don't you send them to school?
WOMAN: Por miedo.
FLORES: Because of the fear?
WOMAN: Si.
SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT: With this level of fear --
FLORES (voiceover): Chicago's police superintendent acknowledged the fear in immigrant communities could impact public safety.
SNELLING: -- I'm pretty sure that there are some people who have not stepped up and reported a crime that may have been committed against them out of fear.
SAM: It's -- it's heartbreaking.
FLORES (voiceover): Sam says it's not just undocumented moms who are in fear for their children.
FLORES (to Sam): What did you tell your son to say?
SAM: If he was questioned by ICE, I told him to say, "I'm an American citizen -- please call my mom."
FLORES (voiceover): She and her 10-year-old son are both U.S. citizens.
SAM: It breaks my heart.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: Rosa Flores, thank you so much.
(...)
CNN This Morning Weekend
February 2, 2025
6:49 a.m.
AMARA WALKER: Now, while President Trump is making good on his promise to deport undocumented migrants, volunteers across the country are working to make sure those hiding from law enforcement are getting fed. CNN correspondent Rosa Flores has more.
(Rosa Flores report is repeated.)
(...)
CNN Newsroom
February 2, 2025
5:42 p.m.
JESSICA DEAN: President Trump's promise to deport illegal migrants has terrified a lot of people across the U.S. Some undocumented families have been too frightened to leave their homes since Trump took office, and our Rosa Flores rode along with a volunteer in Chicago who was working to ensure that those in hiding get what they need to survive.
(Rosa Flores report is repeated.)
