CNN abruptly ended an interview with a newly arrived illegal immigrant who recently crosse the border and told CNN that he did so due to the expiration of Title 42.
Title 42, for reference, expired on Friday. It was a pandemic-era immigration policy that allowed health officials to limit the number of asylum seekers attempting to enter the U.S., thus enabling the US to keep out a large number of illegal immigrants who were claiming to be seeking asylum. As a result of it coming to an end, upwards of 700,000 migrants have already entered or are expected to soon enter the United States through the southern border, with that figure expected to rise substantially in the coming weeks and months.
In the interview with the freshly arrived illegal immigrant, the CNN reporter asked, “Were you aware of Title 42 and that they were going to open the border like before the pandemic?”
The illegal immigrant, responding, said “yes”, and then told the reporter that he heard the border was going to be open upon the expiration of Title 42 and decided to make the dangerous trek because of that. The CNN reporter, having heard an answer he did not want to get, then quickly thanked the man and promptly ended the interview.
CNN: "Were you aware of Title 42 and that they were gonna open the border like before the pandemic?"
"Yes."
CNN: "That's why you came?"
"Yes." pic.twitter.com/wv3fta5XYJ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 11, 2023
During Friday’s press briefing, KFP was asked, “[O]ne more follow-up on Title 42. You said that the American people have heard directly from the President. Why haven’t migrants heard a message from the President or the Vice President — either of them — explaining the new rules or reiterating, you know, what the Secretary said yesterday: not to come here if you’re not going to qualify for asylum? Wh- — where are they in terms of communicating with the people who are trying to come in?”
I think hearing from Secretary Mayorkas is a powerful messenger. He was at the border. He has — was here for more than 50 minutes taking all of your questions. He’s been on TV doing kind of a ro- — round robin today and other days as well this week. And he’s been very clear what the message is to — to migrants who are coming.
Look, our message has been very clear for the past — past couple of weeks, especially as we’ve been putting this plan together, really, for the past — past two years, which is: We got a robust plan in place to humanely manage the border through enforcement, deterrence, and diplomacy.
We’ve been very clear. We want a system that’s humane, that’s orderly. That’s what the President said on the first day that he walked into this administration, putting forth a piece of legislation that is comprehensive. Remember, this is a — this is a problem that is decades-long.
Secretary Mayorkas said: The last time that we have changed the law or we’ve seen laws change around this issue was back in the ‘90s. It is more — more than time to address this issue.
The President is using the tools that he has in front of him to deal with this issue. And — and so, he’ll continue to do that, but — but we have to have Congress acting.
And I think — I think the President is speaking very loud and clear this week — or taking, I should say — taking questions from all of you, and also doing an interview and answering a question about Title 42 and immigration, how we’re moving forward. I think it’s also important.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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