The nation, reeling from an ongoing border catastrophe and migrant crime crisis, ignored the media’s activist caterwauling and chose enforcement this past election. With the transition to the Second Trump Administration ongoing, it is important to look back at one of the worst instances of media migration activism
With the border in full collapse back in March of 2021, Univision chose to platform coyotes. With cameras and microphones in their faces, those coyotes claimed to be there to help migrants cash in on the alleged “benefits” offered by the Biden Administration.
PEDRO ULTRERAS: Is business booming right now, does it pay well?
COYOTE 1: It does, given the situation with the people.
ULTRERAS: At least that’s what these two young men say, having built a highly profitable business by helping Central American families seeking asylum to cross (into the US).
COYOTE: We just come here to earn our daily bread like everybody else.
ULTRERAS: Both young men claim to be 22 years of age and agreed to speak to us without concealing their identities at the edge of the Rio Grande, on the American side.
COYOTE 2: In all honesty, there are way too many people. Believe me...with the benefits your new president is now granting, the people found the courage to come.
As the border explodes, the networks once again turn their lonely gaze to the plight of the brave and misunderstood human trafficker. The coyote may have been right, though. The promise of a “benefit” for migrants appears to be enough of a “green light”.
There’s one more thing that the record will reflect: so critical is a broken border to the long-term survival of the nation’s Spanish-language media, that actual human traffickers will receive more airtime and be more favorably spotlighted than a proponent of strong border enforcement.
This is not the first of its genre: Telemundo went and covered coyotes during the pandemic, who at the time bragged about HAVING LISTS AT THE READY AND WAITING FOR A “GREEN LIGHT”:
COYOTE: (It’s down) now, because of the coronavirus. It’s crashing, really, because not everyone is willing to risk coming to a country where the epidemic is.
…
COYOTE: The entire economy crashed- (both) for us and for our people.
…
COYOTE: In fact, we have lists with hundreds of clients that are waiting for this to settle down so that we can begin to cross them over.
…
COYOTE: The wait is temporary. Just give us the green light and we’ll move forward.
Exit question: With the U.S. government going back to an enforcement posture as of January 20th, 2025: will Spanish-language media cover the immigration debate in a manner that is respectful of U.S. sovereignty, or will they continue to undermine their credibility by insisting on activist coverage? Time will tell.
