On Monday, several “journalists” attempted to gain access to the Yuma Centralized Processing Center by representing themselves as translators during a previously-scheduled attorney-client privileged visitation. Two of them were identified as journalists and were turned away at the door however, the third subject fraudulently gained access into the facility.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not identify the reporter.
Andrew Meehan, Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, issued the following statement:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to being transparent and accountable to the public. It is critical to our mission. CBP regularly engages with members of the media, nongovernmental organizations, and members of Congress to maintain the trust of the public. Over the past several weeks, CBP has worked tirelessly to ensure that members of the media have access to CBP’s Centralized Processing Centers. Tours of these facilities pose operational challenges by limiting the agency’s ability to process migrants expeditiously and move them through the next phase of the process. CBP must also consider the privacy interests of individuals held at the facilities. In an effort to balance these interests while maintaining a commitment to accountability and transparency, CBP has established a protocol to allow for members of the media to receive tours of the CPCs. CBP has also released video and pictures of the CPCs to assist the media in telling their story.
Yesterday, without going through the established protocols, several journalists posed as translators in an attempt to gain access to the Yuma Centralized Processing Center. This breach in security was unnecessary, violated our good faith efforts to work together on important stories and put everyone at risk. We are disappointed in the journalist as well as the network for this behavior. CBP is committed to working with the media while ensuring that operational flexibility is maintained and privacy interests are protected.
Sleazier journalists have played fast and loose with facts prompting outrage over the separation of illegal immigrant children and the adults with whom they travel. However according to DHS, the Department “has seen a staggering increase in the number of illegal aliens using children to pose as family units to gain entry into the United States. From October 2017 to February 2018, there was a 315 percent increase in the number of cases of adults with minors fraudulently posing as “family units” to gain entry.”
DHS will separate adults and minors under certain circumstances. These circumstances include: 1) when DHS is unable to determine the familial relationship, 2) when DHS determines that a child may be at risk with the parent or legal guardian, or 3) when the parent or legal guardian is referred for criminal prosecution.