Media Largely Ignore Death of San Jose Woman Caused by Sanctuary Policies

March 15th, 2019 1:43 PM

Two weeks ago, Bambi Larson of San Jose was murdered by illegal immigrant Carlos Arevalo-Corranza; who has an extremely lengthy criminal history. Not surprisingly, the legacy media largely ignored this story. With the exception of CNN's Early Start and a segment on Univision, all of the cable news coverage of Larson’s death came from either Fox News or One America News Network.

The Ingraham Angle, one of the Fox News shows that has covered Larson’s death, obtained a copy of a DHS immigration detainer notice for Arevalo-Corranza from October 9, 2018; one of seven detainers ICE has issued for him. The detainer had a stamp with the words “not honored per county policy,” referring to the sanctuary policy of Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose.

Ingraham pointed out what this stamp means: “It was the sanctuary city status that was directly at fault for this crime and for the man being on the loose.” No wonder the pro-amnesty, pro-sanctuary city media didn’t want to cover it; it would throw a wrench into their narrative about how wonderful and harmless sanctuary cities are.

 

 

Ingraham continued: “DHS just confirmed to us, just shortly before the show went to air, that the suspect was not only in the country illegally but had left and then reentered after he claimed asylum.” Once again, this does not bode well for the media narrative that everyone seeking asylum in the United States genuinely faces persecution at home and/or wants a “better life.”

As for the Univision segment, the mention of Larson’s death came as part of a larger segment about the legal battle over sanctuary cities in general. On Thursday’s edition of UNews, anchor Andrea Linares and reporter Luis Megid made sure to use politically correct terms such as “undocumented” and “so-called sanctuary laws” when discussing the story. The segment on Univision lasted for a total of 1 minute and 38 seconds.

The segment on CNN’s Early Start lasted for 38 seconds; bringing the grand total amount of coverage of Larson’s death by the legacy media to 2 minutes and 16 seconds. This case definitely merits more attention from both cable and network news and the bias by omission says a lot about the media’s liberal agenda. Megid summed up the situation nicely as he closed his report on Univision: “the concept of sanctuary will continue to be controversial.”

A transcript of the relevant portion of Thursday’s edition of The Ingraham Angle is below:

The Ingraham Angle

03/14/19

10:01 PM

LAURA INGRAHAM: But first, we have a Fox News alert. In an Ingraham Angle exclusive, we have more details about illegal alien Carlos Arevalo-Carranza, who was arrested for the brutal murder of Bambi Larson in San Jose, California. Earlier today, The Ingraham Angle was contacted by an anonymous source with knowledge of the case. This person obtained what they said was the copy of the DHS immigration detainer notice of the action dated October 9, 2018 for Carranza. And after we got our hands on this document, we verified its authenticity directly with DHS officials. Now, remember, the county has insisted all along that they are not at fault for the fact that Carranza was not detained or deported prior to the killing. They even went so far as to blame ICE for the release of this suspect. However, as you can see clearly here, the detainer is not stamped, quote, is stamped “not honored for county policy,” indicating that it was the sanctuary city status that was directly at fault for this crime and for the man being on the loose. Obviously, he wouldn’t have been here to commit the crime if he had been detained by ICE and deported out of the country. Now tonight, we can also tell you that DHS just confirmed to us, just shortly before the show went to air, that the suspect was not only in the country illegally, but had left and then reentered after he claimed asylum and passed that initial credible screening in an interview with border officials.

A transcript of the relevant portion of Wednesday’s edition of Early Start is below:

Early Start With Christine Romans and Dave Briggs

03/13/19

04:10 AM

 

JESSICA DEAN: A Salvadoran man who ICE placed under detainers nine times over six years has now been arrested in California for murder. A DNA match obtained Monday tied Carlos Eduardo Arevalo to the killing of 59-year-old Bambi Larson. Arevalo had been arrested at least nine times previously for various offenses. ICE asked law enforcement in Southern California and the South Bay Area to hold him so steps could be taken to deport him. But the San Francisco Chronicle reports local police agencies ignored all the ICE detainers. The case once again raises questions about local sanctuary policies across California. 

 

A transcript of the relevant portion of Thursday’s edition of UNews is below. Click “expand” to read more:

UNews

03/14/19

01:18 PM

ANDREA LINARES: The Trump administration is back in court fighting California’s so-called sanctuary laws, these are laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents in order to protect immigrants from deportation. The legal action comes as critics blame the laws for the murder of a San Jose woman by an undocumented man. Luis Megid has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUIS MEGID: A woman was murdered in this house and some are blaming sanctuary laws for the crime. San Jose police arrested Carlos Eduardo Arevalo-Carranza, an undocumented from El Salvador many believe should not have been in the country.

EDDIE GARCIA, SAN JOSE CHIEF OF POLICE: ICE had placed detainers on these, on this individual six separate times. Two in the Los Angeles area and four in the county of Santa Clara.

MEGID: The new controversy started the same week the Trump administration went back to court to block sanctuary laws in the state. But to get there might not be so easy. A three-judge panel sounded skeptical. They pointed that there is no federal law demanding that California has to cooperate with ICE.

PROTESTERS: No hate, no wall, sanctuary for all! No hate, no, wall, sanctuary for all!

MEGID: Outside the hearing, supporters of the sanctuary law came to be heard. The future of three state laws is in the hands of the court. Two ban public employees and employers from cooperating with ICE. The third one orders state inspections of detention centers.

(END VOICE-OVER)

MEGID: Now, the judges will take their time to come up with a decision. It doesn’t really matter what they decide. The concept of sanctuary will continue to be controversial. In San Francisco, Luis Megid, UNews.