A few hours before Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, landed in Brownsville, Texas, as part of a hyped media tour to address the critical situation at the southern border, Telemundo delivered a rare report slamming the Biden administration's handling of the migrant crisis.
From “America's southern border continues to be the Biden administration's Achilles heel”, to “they don't seem to know how to solve it”, to “that border remains out of control”, and “they don't have space to care for those who turn up positive for coronavirus", so the Border Patrol is "letting them through", correspondent Edgard Muñoz spilled all the beans before closing the report with a final blow: Mayorkas was more interested in ensuring good optics than actually visiting a critical zone.
ARANXTA LOIZAGA: How about we start with what is happening at the border, which is that the authorities are totally overwhelmed precisely along that southern part of the country where migrants continue to arrive in increasing numbers.
EDGARD MUÑOZ: Indeed, the immigration crisis at America's southern border continues to be the Biden administration's Achilles heel. The problem is that they don’t seem to know how to solve it. The crossings are increasing and just a few hours before the arrival of the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, that border remains out of control and under harsh and severe criticism.
...
The onslaught of immigrants continues along Texas’ southern border. Parents with children, unaccompanied children, pregnant women- and all records have been shattered with over one million arrests for fiscal year 2021. The 'don't come' from Secretary of State (sic), Alejandro Mayorkas has not worked. On the contrary, the crossings increased in August.
…
There are so many immigrants who are crossing the southern border of cities such as Laredo, that they say they don't have space to care for those who test positive for coronavirus. And that's how the Border Patrol is dangerously releasing them, they are letting them through.
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Within hours of Secretary Mayorkas' arrival, the relocation of immigrant families to other border stations has intensified in order to avoid chaos and disorder at the Texas border. That's right, different groups were moved to Austin, to El Paso, to Houston, so that we don't see the chaos.
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And finally, I would mention that it is striking that Secretary Mayorkas is going to Brownsville, Texas, when right here in McAllen is where there are the largest number of crossings.
Telemundo, NBC´s sister station for Spanish-speaking audiences, functions like a public relations branch of the Biden White House, praising any measure coming out of the Oval Office and especially regarding immigration. To watch a three-and-a-half-minute report actually criticize the current administration´s disastrous handling of immigration- when “all records have been shattered with over one million arrests for fiscal year 2021” -is a shock.
While at MRC Latino we have noted how the Latino networks have been badgering the Administration for payback for their massive campaign to turn Hispanics into Democrat voters, as you can see here, it´s not every day that Telemundo´s audience gets to view what is really going on at the border. This time, as opposed to the Trump era, there were no AOC´s, performative activism or hundreds of reporters and camera people from the liberal press fanning the drama. Only real news.
Join the Media Research Center in calling out the bias that passes for news at the nation's Spanish-speaking media here.
Press on Expand to view the complete transcript of the segment mentioned above as it aired on Hoy Día, Telemundo, on August 12, 2021:
ARANXTA LOIZAGA: How about we start with what is happening at the border, which is that the authorities are totally overwhelmed precisely along that southern part of the country where migrants continue to arrive in increasing numbers.
NICOLE SUAREZ: Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to make a brief visit to one of the places. We're going to the city of McAllen, Texas. Edgar Muñoz is there with more information. Edgard, good morning. Tell us.
EDGARD MUÑOZ: Hello, how are you, good morning, everyone. Indeed, the immigration crisis at America's southern border continues to be the Biden administration's Achilles heel. The problem is that they don’t seem to know how to solve it. The crossings are increasing and just a few hours before the arrival of the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, that border remains out of control and under harsh and severe criticism.
The onslaught of immigrants continues along Texas’ southern border. Parents with children, unaccompanied children, pregnant women- and all records have been shattered with over one million arrests for fiscal year 2021. The 'don't come' from Secretary of State (sic), Alejandro Mayorkas has not worked. On the contrary, the crossings increased in August.
MIGRANT: He starts to complain because of hunger, and you I don’t have anything to come up with or give to him or or ask you to see what they can give in order to move forward.
MUÑOZ: How old is your little girl?
MIGRANT: She’s a year old.
MUÑOZ: Does she cry a lot?
MIGRANT: Yes, a lot.
MUÑOZ: There are so many immigrants who are crossing the southern border of cities such as Laredo, that they say they don't have space to care for those who test positive for coronavirus. And that's how the Border Patrol is dangerously releasing them, they are letting them through. Jorge and his wife and son crossed through McAllen and they were quarantined.
JORGE MADARIAGA, MIGRANT: We stayed almost two weeks. We didn't go out because the girl tested positive for covid, and all three of us had to be negative.
JUANA SOLIS, MIGRANT: We believe that she got covid while getting here.
MUÑOZ: Until last week, there were thousands of immigrants sleeping outside under the Anzalduas bridge and with little food, waiting for several days to be processed by the Border Patrol. Activists such as the Lupe organization are asking Secretary Mayorkas for more investment in order to give dignified and humane attention to immigrants.
DANIEL DIAZ: We demand that Biden, right, use more resources at the border, that there not be so much talk about militarization, but more humane opportunities for the people who are coming in.
MUÑOZ: Immigrants are in the hands of organized crime. They don't just charge them for bringing them. They are also extorted, kidnapped and sold false hopes, and in the face of necessity, they leave everything for the American dream. Grely spent 16 days on the road with her 4-year-old daughter.
GRELY CORTEZ, MIGRANT: Sometimes you put up with hunger, sometimes you sleep, sometimes you're cold, a little of everything.
MUÑOZ: Within hours of Secretary Mayorkas' arrival, the relocation of immigrant families to other border stations has intensified in order to avoid chaos and disorder at the Texas border. That's right, different groups were moved to Austin, to El Paso, to Houston, so that we don't see the chaos. And you're watching right now, live footage of migrants surrendering right here at the border, and the authorities are taking them up to this area. And finally, I would mention that it is striking that Secretary Mayorkas is going to Brownsville, Texas, when right here in McAllen is where there are the largest number of crossings. Back to you.
LOIZAGA: Edgard, thank you very much for that information, and obviously we have all the details of the visit of Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas.
