According to Getty Image’s photographer at the crossing ground, the news media has been granted “zero access” to the US-Mexico border under President Biden.
Journalists attempted a dangerous journey in recent weeks, as thousands of Central American migrants – including unaccounted children – came to cover the crisis, coming to the border.
But, according to lensman John Moore, he faced restrictive circumstances, hampering his ability to tell the story by US officials.
“I respectfully ask the US Customs and Border Protection to block media access to their border operations,” Moore tweeted on Friday. “I photographed the CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now – have been given zero access to the media.”
In the thread, Moore included dramatic scenes of the crossing – which he was unable to work in the US, saying he took from the Mexican side of the border using a telephoto lens.
“Until now, American photo journalists have not needed to stand in another country to see what the picture is about – in the United States” They have written.
Moore said that he and other journalists Have run away Recently from a crossing by Border Patrol agents.
“There is no modern precedent for a complete physical restriction on media access to CBP border operations,” They have written. “Those who can say, cut them some slack – they are dealing with a situation, I would say that showing America’s response to the current immigrant growth is really the role of the media.
“Photographing Border Patrol agents and immigrant encounters can be done respectfully without further action being intervened,” He continued
.
Moore also rejected the idea that such restrictions could be justified under coronavirus regulations.
“And pandemic sanctions are not a valid excuse for blocking the use of physical media, especially for operations that are outside,” They have written. “There are easy alternative options for the media ride-along.
“Showing the difficult and important work of @cbp agents in the field, while also pictures of immigrants in a respectful manner, is not a mutually exclusive effort,” she added. “Transparency is also important in a political environment.”
Biden administration officials have repeatedly promised media access to conditions at the border – including inside facilities where detained children are being kept – but a hard date has not yet been put forward to begin the review .
On Sunday morning, Fox News host Chris Wallace discussed the issue with H Omland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, questioning why reporters did not accompany Mayurkas to their border last week.
Mayorkas fell back on the epidemic to explain the lack of use, promising to provide footage of the conditions.
The Post has seen the restrictions for the first time during a recent visit to the border.
Last week during a ride with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, a Post reporter investigating border patrol agents found a house being used as a stash house for stolen cars and smuggling migrants Was.
The agents explicitly told The Post not to take a picture of him.
Later, personnel from the Hidalgo County Constable’s office warned against taking photos or videos of border patrol personnel.
“This is just the order they have too, because I think they don’t want to admit that this is a crisis going on,” a deputy speculated, noting that the camera-shy instruction was sent to the border last month. Petrol was handed over, when photography was not “really” seen as a problem in the past.
“They don’t want to leak anything,” the deputy continued. “But it already is.”
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