Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimated that their apprehensions of illegal border crossers for the month of March easily surpassed 100,000. As CBS correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reported on the Evening News Monday, “That would be the highest one-month total in more than a decade.” But that fact drew yawns from NBC Nightly News where they were more terrified of a border shutdown disrupting shipments of tequila and tomatoes.
President Trump’s threat to shut down the southern border was the first topic NBC chose to cover and in classic NBC-fashion, they tried to discredit it. “The President, from a political perspective, is working to turn the conversation back to the border with the focus now on immigration, an issue that's important to him and his base,” claimed chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson.
When it came to the surge of people on the border, Jackson suggested that it was the Border Patrol doing that: “A surge to the south tonight with 750 more Border Patrol agents headed towards the Mexican border as the President pushes to shut it down altogether as early as this week, maybe.”
“Although the overall number of undocumented immigrants crossing the border is down from its peak two decades ago, a record number of families and unaccompanied minors are trying to enter the U.S.,” Jackson stated as she misled viewers.
Meanwhile, both ABC News and CBS News acknowledged the massive flows of illegal immigrants swiftly picking up that same evening.
After whining about Trump “cutting off some $450 million in aid to three Central American countries”, Jackson highlighted a distraught woman who was denied entry into the U.S. “Marlene Ruiz is seeking asylum near El Paso. They don't want to give us asylum she says,” Jackson reported while failing to confirm if the woman actually met the requirements for asylum.
In a follow-up report, introduced with a picture a grim looking Trump with the words "the price you pay" next to him (shown above), NBC’s Tom Costello was in a panic over how a border shut down would hurt the trade of tequila and tomatoes:
It would likely only take a few weeks before Americans would notice a border shutdown in the grocery aisle. Nearly half of all imported vegetables and 40 percent of imported fruit are grown in Mexico. From the cucumbers and tomatoes in your salad to the avocados in guacamole, even the blackberries and raspberries in your smoothie. Not to mention beer, wine, and tequila for your margaritas. Most of it comes from Mexico.
“If the border closes, Americans could find themselves short on some key ingredients they have come to love. Avocados could be gone within three weeks,” Costello added. That was an extension of MSNBC’s fears of an impending Avocado crisis from earlier in the day.
Ignoring the massive flows of illegal immigrants was a habit for NBC. A month ago, they also ignored the 76,000 illegals caught in February.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
April 1, 2019
7:01:46 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Good evening, Everyone. People on both sides of the southern border tonight are bracing for a possible border shutdown aimed at stopping the flow of migrants into this country and potentially hitting the bottom line for many Americans who depend on produce and other products from Mexico. President Trump tonight ordering 750 additional border agents in the region threatening to close land crossings and to halt aid to three Central American countries. We have it all covered tonight starting with Hallie Jackson at the White House. Hallie, good evening.
HALLIE JACKOSN: Lester, good evening to you. The President, from a political perspective, is working to turn the conversation back to the border with the focus now on immigration, an issue that's important to him and his base.
[Cuts to video]
A surge to the south tonight with 750 more Border Patrol agents headed towards the Mexican border as the President pushes to shut it down altogether as early as this week, maybe.
(…)
JACKSON: Although the overall number of undocumented immigrants crossing the border is down from its peak two decades ago, a record number of families and unaccompanied minors are trying to enter the U.S.
KEVIN MCALEENAN (CBP Commissioner): That breaking point has arrived this week at our border.
JACKSON: The President has threatened a border closure before, if Mexico doesn't step up to help.
(…)
JACKSON: White House officials insist this time he's serious. And in another controversial move, the President is cutting off some $450 million in aid to three Central American countries for, he says, not doing enough to discourage illegal immigration.
Marlene Ruiz is seeking asylum near El Paso. They don't want to give us asylum she says. Critics say closing the border won't stop the flow of migrants like Ruiz, and neither will stripping aid from those three nations, money that helps fight the crime, violence and poverty that drives people to leave in search of a better life. Hallie Jackson, NBC news the White House.
TOM COSTELLO: This is Tom Costello. It would likely only take a few weeks before Americans would notice a border shutdown in the grocery aisle. Nearly half of all imported vegetables and 40 percent of imported fruit are grown in Mexico. From the cucumbers and tomatoes in your salad to the avocados in guacamole, even the blackberries and raspberries in your smoothie. Not to mention beer, wine, and tequila for your margaritas. Most of it comes from Mexico.
If the border closes, Americans could find themselves short on some key ingredients they have come to love. Avocados could be gone within three weeks. And because of the growing season, California would not be able to pick up the slack for another month or so.
(…)
