Part of Fox News' success is its ability to provide a national platform for wedge issues which divide America. Their biased coverage serves to advance a climate of fear and loathing of people and issues whom the right wing oppose, particularly undocumented immigrants who, on Fox, are always described as "illegals." Yesterday, Fox & Friends advanced what has now become the latest right wing outrage; i.e. how the Mexican government is helping its citizens avoid deportation by assisting them in applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration status, otherwise known as DACA which allows for a stay of deportation for those who came to the US, without documentation, as children. Doesn't seem like a big deal; but for Fox guest, Jordan Sekulow, who is head of a legal group that specializes in cases involving Christian 1st Amendment rights, it certainly is - and it's all Obama's fault!
Fox legal contributor and personal attorney for Fox head Roger Ailes, Peter Johnson Jr reported that "unauthorized immigrants brought to the US as minors can avoid deportation and even get work permits for two years." As he spoke, a screen sized graphic appeared with the number of "illegals" who are "here via DACA." He voice became louder, the tone more incredulous, as he informed us that the Mexican government is paying for the applications which cost $465.
In introducing Jordan Sekulow, who is head of the AmericanCenter for Law and Justice, Johnson framed the propaganda message in terms the Fox audience could understand: "What we have now is the Mexico paying to import Mexicans into America to work here legally. They're saying we don't want you back, go to America and we'll pay for it. Right, wrong, legal, crazy, what." The chyron reinforced the message: "Paid to Stay, Rpt. Mexico Pays to Help Immigrants Stay Here." (Note, these immigrants are those who qualify for DACA) Reality Check - The Mexican government is paying only for those who demonstrate financial need.
Sekulow said that the Mexican government "admitted" that this is being done at 50 consulates. "To put it in perspective," he noted that other fees are also being covered. He mentioned that this was revealed via an NPR story in which an applicant only paid $50 for the application. As the chyron defined this non-story as an "immigration controversy" (A controversy aided and abetted by Fox) for "youth to avoid deportation," video was shown from last summer's influx of Central American kids at the US border. Reality Check - Kids crossing the border, without papers, ARE NOT COVERED by DACA.
Sekulow cited American foreign aid to Mexico and accused them of taking our money to pay for "people who are here illegally to stay, not to return to Mexico." He claimed that the US "is saying we can't track the money so it doesn't matter." (The NPR article does not make this claim. It does say that the Mexican Embassy doesn't keep track of the applications it funded.) Despite the reality that DACA has NOTHING TO DO with the border the chyron framed it that way: "Border Battle, House has Voted Twice to Defund DACA Bill."
Johnson asked can be done to do to stop this. Sekulow explained the background to requirements for DACA. He noted that things could change if the GOP takes over Congress in which case they could decrease aid to Mexico. Johnson kept to the script when he asked "doesn't this defy the truth in terms of what's going on [with the border]. They're not cooperating , they're trying to fund folks who are here illegally and pay for them to stay here now." More stock footage of kids at the border was shown. Sekulow did more fear mongering when he alluded to all the money that is being set aside by Mexican consulates and "when you start adding that up, it's millions of dollars that we give to Mexico...that they're using to keep people here illegally... but this is what the Obama administration wanted all along with this move.
So rather than a "fair & balanced" discussion of how allowing young people, many of them college graduates, to stay in the only country that they have formed a bond with, this was just another Fox anti-immigrant screed as well as an opportunity to bash Mexico which is using its own money to help those in need, those who are contributing to American society. But that got lost in the Fox translation.
Take a stroll along the properties to see who’s working, and post all the images on social media.