Immigration and Customs Enforcement were reportedly set to fan out across the country and roundup some 2,000 illegal immigrants for deportation on Sunday. So, the liberal broadcast networks did everything they could Thursday evening to get the word out and educate people on how to evade ICE officials. In the process, they suggested Trump was trying to terrorize communities.
In the report for the CBS Evening News, correspondent Jericka Duncan was in Queens, New York (which she strangely described as “a long-time epicenter for immigrants”) and spoke with an immigration attorney who claimed President Trump’s raids were “meant to create and further the fear and the panic in the community.”
After the attorney explained how to evade ICE by not opening the door unless they had a warrant, Duncan added that, “He says people in this community are worried about the raids, which will include collateral deportation. In other words, family members and friends of the targeted immigrants who are there when ICE arrives could also be arrested by ICE and deported.”
Duncan then highlighted the cities that were refusing to work with ICE and wrapped up her report by seeming to push an argument that the raids were unconstitutional:
In anticipation of those raids, five immigration legal services filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Trump administration. Jim, this lawsuit argues basically that constitutional due process requires that immigrants be given a special hearing in front of an immigration judge before simply being deported.
But CBS fill-in anchor Jim Axelrod noted before the report that the raids were looking for people with active “deportation orders.” Duncan didn’t explain that part but it meant an immigration judge had already reviewed their cases and found that needed to be removed (either skipped their hearing, asylum claim was denied, est.)
On ABC’s World News Tonight, chief national correspondent Matt Gutman really dug into the concept of fear. “Tonight, those possible ICE raids sowing fear across America,” he declared at the top of his report. “We are in Los Angeles, headed to the home of a woman in an undisclosed location, who, like so many thousands, plans to go into hiding.”
Gutman spoke with an illegal immigrant woman who planned to camp out in her home for several days. After showing off the food and water the woman had stockpiled, he boasted about how “immigration groups fanning out, David, with cards like these, advising folks that they are not legally bound to open their doors to ICE.”
As for NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt wasted little time in getting to the fear mongering. “This evening federal authorities are preparing to begin a nationwide roundup of 2,000 undocumented immigrants on Sunday. As NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports, the move is prompting waves of fear,” he announced.
After touting the leftist protestors getting arrested in Buffalo, New York, correspondent Gade Gutierrez teed-up a different immigration attorney to explain how to evade ICE, asking: “What are you telling your clients right now?”
“We're saying things to them like don't answer your door if someone knocks in the middle of the night. If it’s an official from the government, they need to have a warrant if they're going to come to your home,” the lawyer said.
The people being sought by ICE had already been through the legal system and had been ordered to leave by a federal immigration judge. These networks were basically thumbing their nose at the rule of law.
The transcripts are below, click “expand” to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
July 11, 2019
6:41:22 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Meantime, Jon, as you know, the Trump administration plans to move ahead now with those sweeping raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement teams this weekend. Some 2,000 immigrants in ten cities are reportedly targeted. And ABC's Matt Gutman is in Los Angeles, one of the cities expecting those raids.
[Cuts to video]
MATT GUTMAN: Tonight, those possible ICE raids sowing fear across America. As reported by The New York Times, the roundups would target some 2,000 undocumented people on deportation lists. They'd reportedly begin Sunday in as many as ten major American cities, about three weeks after President Trump warned this could happen. The result? Near panic in some places.
We are in Los Angeles, headed to the home of a woman in an undisclosed location, who, like so many thousands, plans to go into hiding.
Lillian, who asked, that we not show her on camera has been in the U.S. for over 20 years. She has two children who are us citizens but she and her partner are undocumented.
Are you afraid?
LILIAN: Yes. I -- I lot of scary because for immigration.
UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: Police, search warrant!
GUTMAN: What frightens people like Lillian the most is ICE deporting undocumented people who happen to be near someone on a target list, like they did at this Texas workplace.
So, this Sunday, do you plan to have the shades closed and extra food in the fridge?
LILIAN: Yes, of course, because I go yesterday to the market because -- for prepare.
GUTMAN: She shows us the food and water she stocked, enough to last her for several days.
[Cuts back to live]
Immigration groups fanning out, David, with cards like these, advising folks that they are not legally bound to open their doors to ICE. Now, ICE officials, unwilling to confirm to us that these raids will take place on Sunday, but they do tell us that about 2,000 people are on their target lists and will be deported, quote, “soon”. David?
MIUYR: Matt Gutman, our thanks to you tonight.
CBS Evening News
July 11, 2019
6:39:28 p.m. EasternJIM AXELROD: CBS News has learned the Trump administration's long-expected roundup of undocumented immigrant families will begin Sunday. ICE officers will focus on at least ten cities and more than 2,000 immigrants who are under deportation orders. Jericka Duncan visited one place that’s a likely target.
[Cuts to video]
JERICKA DUNCAN: Queens, New York, a long-time epicenter for immigrants, is expected to be one of the several cities to be raided. 39-year-old Fahad Ahmed runs an organization that focuses on immigrant rights.
FAHAD AHMED: It's meant to create and further the fear and the panic in the community.
DUNCAN: And what are they supposed to do if ICE shows up?
AHMED: If law enforcement shows up to your home, ask for a warrant. If they don't have a warrant, they do not have a right to come in.
DUNCAN: He says people in this community are worried about the raids, which will include collateral deportation. In other words, family members and friends of the targeted immigrants who are there when ICE arrives could also be arrested by ICE and deported. Police departments in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland will not help with the raids.
LORI LIGHTFOOT: I personally have spoken within ice leadership in Chicago and voiced my strong objection to any raids.
DUNCAN: In a statement, ICE said, "All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention, and if found removable by final order, removal from the United States." In a tweet, President Trump pushed Democrats to make a deal on immigration reform or expect deportations. Some Republicans are expressing concern.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM: To me it is not cruel, it's reinforcing the rule of law, but I'd prefer not to go down that route if we can find a deal.
DUNCAN: This undocumented mother of six is taking refuge inside a Chicago Methodist church. She asked for her identity to be concealed.
TRANSLATOR: I am resisting deportation because all of my children are U.S. citizens as well as my husband. They have a right to be with their mother.
[Cuts back to live]
DUNCAN: In anticipation of those raids, five immigration legal services filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Trump administration. Jim, this lawsuit argues basically that constitutional due process requires that immigrants be given a special hearing in front of an immigration judge before simply being deported.
AXELROD: Jericka, thank you very much.
NBC Nightly News
July 11, 2019
7:07:46 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: This evening federal authorities are preparing to begin a nationwide roundup of 2,000 undocumented immigrants on Sunday. As NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports, the move is prompting waves of fear.
[Cuts to video]
GABE GUTIERREZ: Tonight two senior Homeland Security officials tell NBC News that nationwide arrests of undocumented immigrants are scheduled to start Sunday, conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in at least ten major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, and New York. ICE won't comment on enforcement operations.
Across the country today, swift outrage, several protesters arrested in Buffalo, New York. The President had postponed the roundup but last week said it will begin “fairly soon”.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: They say came in illegally and we're bringing them out legally.
HEBA GALIBE: People are concerned.
GUTIERREZ: Heba Galibe is an immigration attorney in Atlanta. What are you telling your clients right now?
GALIBE: We're saying things to them like don't answer your door if someone knocks in the middle of the night. If it’s an official from the government, they need to have a warrant if they're going to come to your home.
GUTIERREZ: Stephanie Lopez is a DACA recipient who worries about who’d care for her younger siblings if her undocumented parents were deported?
STEPHANIE LOPEZ: It breaks my heart to hear him say or even think about not having his mom.
GUTIERREZ: When you heard about these planned raids, what went through your head?
LOPEZ: It just creates a lot of fear and no one knows if they're going to knock your door next.
[Cuts back to live]
GUTIERREZ: Families arrested during this week could be flown to detention centers in Texas and Pennsylvania while they await deportation. Plans are still being finalized, Lester.
HOLT: All right, Gabe, thanks.
