Continuing the liberal media’s narrative that those working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement were monsters, Tuesday’s NBC Nightly News featured correspondent Gabe Gutierrez trying to shame acting ICE director Matthew Albence with the video of a little girl crying because agents arrested her father.
“Nearly a week after the largest workplace immigration raids in more than a decade, the acting director of ICE is responding to concerns over how the sweep was handled and its impact on kids,” announced anchor Lester Holt as he transitioned into the segment.
The first question NBC showed was of Gutierrez pressing Albence on whether or not he felt “there [was] anything ICE could have done better last week in Mississippi?” The acting Director defended his agents by saying it “was a textbook operation.”
“Matthew Albence says that despite the emotional counts of kids left without their parents as the operation unfolded,” Gutierrez chided via voice over.
Gutierrez then pulled out a cell phone to show Albence a video of a little girl crying and saying her father wasn’t a criminal. “What would you tell that little girl,” he asked.
Albence shot back by arguing that it was the parents who put the kids in that situation when they came to the United States illegally:
Well, I don't think I would speak to the little girl. I would speak to the parents and I would speak to the community at large. Some of the most difficult things that we have to do in our jobs to enforce the laws involve the separation of parents from children. We conduct operations with professionalism, with compassion, and with humanity. The parents or the individuals that are breaking the law are ultimately the ones that are responsible for placing their children in this situation.
To further try to make Albence look detached, Gutierrez pressed him on past comments he made comparing an ICE facility to a summer camp.
“No, I was speaking about a particular facility which is a family residential center which provides a whole host of resources,” the acting director countered. “I would hope and pray that I would be treated and my family would be treated with a fraction of the humanity and compassion that we treat those people.”
In wrapping up his report, Gutierrez seemed to huff about how “back in Mississippi, none of the companies who hired the undocumented workers have been charged.” He then admitted that “a criminal investigation is ongoing.”
Back on July 15, Gutierrez tried to grill El Paso's chief Border Patrol officer and it didn't exactly go well either. Perhaps Gutierrez should stop trying to ambush those trying to secure the border.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
August 13, 2019
7:11:38 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Next, our NBC News exclusive. Nearly a week after the largest workplace immigration raids in more than a decade, the acting director of ICE is responding to concerns over how the sweep was handled and its impact on kids. He spoke exclusively to our Gabe Gutierrez.
[Cuts to video]
GABE GUTIERREZ: Tonight the acting director of ICE says every child affected by the Mississippi immigration raids is now with a caretaker.
In hindsight, is there anything ICE could have done better last week in Mississippi?
MATTHEW ALBENCE (acting ICE director): No. I think this was a textbook operation.
GUTIERREZ: Matthew Albence says that despite the emotional counts of kids left without their parents as the operation unfolded.
You've seen this video.
ALBENCE: I have, yes.
GUTIERREZ: You have. What would you tell that little girl?
ALBENCE: Well, I don't think I would speak to the little girl. I would speak to the parents and I would speak to the community at large. Some of the most difficult things that we have to do in our jobs to enforce the laws involve the separation of parents from children. We conduct operations with professionalism, with compassion, and with humanity. The parents or the individuals that are breaking the law are ultimately the ones that are responsible for placing their children in this situation.
GUTIERREZ: Before Albence was appointed in June, he made headlines when he compared an ICE facility to summer camp.
Do you still believe that?
ALBENCE: No, I was speaking about a particular facility which is a family residential center which provides a whole host of resources. I would hope and pray that I would be treated and my family would be treated with a fraction of the humanity and compassion that we treat those people.
GUTIERREZ: The Trump administration is also trying to restrict legal immigration, making it tougher for people to get a green card if they’ve received any public assistance. Today another top immigration official added a few words to the inscription on the statue of liberty.
KEN CUCCINELLI: Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet.
GUTIERREZ: Back in Mississippi none of the companies who hired the undocumented workers have been charged. A criminal investigation is ongoing. Gabe Gutierrez, NBC News, Washington.
