For months now, NewsBusters has documented how NBC Nightly News had danced around the margins and largely refused to call the situation at the border a “crisis.” But on Wednesday, weekday anchor Lester “fairness is overrated” Holt had handed over the reins to Sunday anchor Kate Snow, the truth finally broke through. Not only did Snow admit there was a crisis, but correspondent Julia Ainsley also bucked the Biden administration by calling out how the border was indeed open for illegal crossings.
“Now to the crisis at the border,” Snow announced at the top of the segment. “NBC News getting rare access with Border Patrol agents trying to manage the record migrant surge. The Biden administration insists the border is closed, but our team found a very different story.”
As Ainsley began the video portion, she noted that of the illegal crossers she spoke too “many told us they believe they'll be allowed to stay.” She then refuted the repeatedly false claims pushed by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:
AINSLEY: Officially, the Biden administration says the border is closed because of the pandemic. Only unaccompanied children can come into the U.S.
MAYORKAS: The border is closed.
AINSLEY: But that's not the reality here on the ground.
Noting that the Biden administration had allowed some people to stay, Ainsley blamed that for “creating confusion for would-be migrants who wonder if the dangerous journey north is worth risking their lives.”
And despite the administration’s claim that they were only taking in unaccompanied minors, she reported that “in a migrant shelter nearby, we found at least 20 adult men who authorities are allowing to stay in the U.S. to await asylum hearings.”
Ainsley spoke with one man who didn’t know why he was being allowed to stay. “We have to depend a lot of times on what the capability or capacity of Mexico is to receive those families,” explained Chief Border Patrol Agent Brian Hastings.
She then exposed how that reliance on Mexico would often mean that illegal crossers would be released into America:
AINSLEY: He says if Mexico won't take them back, they're released here.
Does that make it hard here for your men and women trying to send a message that the border is closed?
HASTINGS: It does. (Transition) We need a system that is able to provide that humanitarian relief while also being able to provide national security, border security. We're struggling with that due to the high numbers that we're seeing.
“Chief Hastings told us so far this year 17 percent of all families and single adults apprehended by his agents have been released into the U.S., motivating migrants to keep coming,” she added.
One unidentified woman with a child told Ainsley she had “heard people say that they were giving permission” to enter the country.
This admission came after NBC and other broadcast networks (ABC and CBS) had ignored how Border Patrol had arrested 10 sex offenders trying to cross, and a known terrorist.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
June 2, 2021
7:12:44 p.m. EasternKATE SNOW: Now to the crisis at the border. NBC News getting rare access with Border Patrol agents trying to manage the record migrant surge. The Biden administration insists the border is closed, but our team found a very different story. Julia Ainsley reports.
[Cuts to video]
JULIA AINSLEY: It's nighttime in the Rio Grande Valley. These are some of the record number of migrants Border Patrol agents encounter every day. Families brought by smugglers turning themselves in because many told us they believe they'll be allowed to stay. Officially, the Biden administration says the border is closed because of the pandemic. Only unaccompanied children can come into the U.S.
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS (DHS secretary): The border is closed.
AINSLEY: But that's not the reality here on the ground.
Some who have crossed have been allowed to stay, creating confusion for would-be migrants who wonder if the dangerous journey north is worth risking their lives.
We met Ana and her 7-year-old son Walter, who said they tried to enter the U.S. last month but were expelled to Mexico and kidnapped. Now, she's trying again.
ANA (via translator): I don't want to go back. I am afraid. I am very afraid.
AINSLEY: But in a migrant shelter nearby, we found at least 20 adult men who authorities are allowing to stay in the U.S. to await asylum hearings.
Do you know why you've been allowed to stay in the United States?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN (via translator): I don't really know.
AINSLEY: We asked the Border Patrol chief here.
It's the stated policy that we hear in Washington is that only unaccompanied children are allowed in right now. But what we saw firsthand in this sector is that even single adult males are being released.
BRIAN HASTINGS (USBP, Rio Grande Valley Sector, chief patrol agent): We have to depend a lot of times on what the capability or capacity of Mexico is to receive those families.
AINSLEY: He says if Mexico won't take them back, they're released here.
Does that make it hard here for your men and women trying to send a message that the border is closed?
HASTINGS: It does. (Transition) We need a system that is able to provide that humanitarian relief while also being able to provide national security, border security. We're struggling with that due to the high numbers that we're seeing.
AINSLEY: Chief Hastings told us so far this year 17 percent of all families and single adults apprehended by his agents have been released into the U.S., motivating migrants to keep coming.
Did anyone tell you you'll be able to stay?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN (via translator): I heard people say that they were giving permission.
AINSLEY: Even if for most their American dream may not be as close as they'd hoped. Julia Ainsley, NBC news, Mission, Texas.
