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‘This is an insult to the purposes of a free press’: Rep Roy leads 20 House colleagues in calling on Biden to allow press access at the border
Washington,
March 25, 2021
By: Congressman Chip Roy Press Release
WASHINGTON — Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21), joined by 20 of his House Republican colleagues, called on the Biden administration to stop stonewalling journalists amid the ongoing immigration crisis and allow the American public to see what is really going on at their southern border. “This crisis is out of control. Indeed, it is far worse than most realize, largely because your Administration is not only mischaracterizing the crisis but also prohibiting journalists from witnessing and documenting the crisis up close,” the letter reads. “This is an insult to the purposes of a free press – as defended in our Constitution – which are to inform the public and hold those in power accountable.” Cosigners to the letter include Reps.: Tom McClintock (CA-04), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Randy K. Weber (TX-14), Ted Budd (NC-13), Ann Wagner (MI-02), Gregory Steube (FL-17), Jody Hice (GA-10), Bill Posey (FL-08), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Lisa McClain (MI-10), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), James R. Baird (IN-04), Dan Bishop (NC-09), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Brian Babin (TX-36), and Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA-01). “Seeing as your Administration refuses to publicly acknowledge the crisis in contradiction to demonstrable facts, denying reporters access can only be seen as a craven effort to keep the public from fully realizing the extent to which this administration’s policies have created chaos, lawlessness and human suffering along our southern border,” the letter adds. The letter follows extensive pushback from members of the media about the Biden administration’s lack of transparency. For example, on Tuesday, the Society of Professional Journalists called on the administration to lift its access restrictions at the border, writing that “it is crucial that journalists be allowed unfettered access to report to the public what is occurring there." Full text of the letter is available at the link here and below: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The southern border is clearly in crisis, and your Administration appears not only to disseminate myths to the American people about the dire situation, but is also actively engaging in behavior that is preventing transparency and accountability to the American people you were elected to serve. It has been reported that 5,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) are being held in a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tent holding facility in south Texas and other border stations. Reportedly, and surpassing the 72-hour statutory limit, UACs are spending an average of 136 hours in CBP custody due to CBP resources being spread too thin. Further, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also currently housing roughly 11,000 UACs in emergency housing facilities and shelters. There are more than 16,000 UACs in government custody and your Administration is not only being dishonest about the situation but actively misleading the American people and blocking access to transparency. For example, your Press Secretary repeated this week that "children, presenting at our border, who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations is not a crisis.” This is despite your Administration's opening of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) facility in Midland, Texas to house young migrants. This crisis is out of control. Indeed, it is far worse than most realize, largely because your Administration is not only mischaracterizing the crisis but also prohibiting journalists from witnessing and documenting the crisis up close. This is an insult to the purposes of a free press – as defended in our Constitution – which are to inform the public and hold those in power accountable. Seeing as your Administration refuses to publicly acknowledge the crisis in contradiction to demonstrable facts, denying reporters access can only be seen as a craven effort to keep the public from fully realizing the extent to which this administration’s policies have created chaos, lawlessness and human suffering along our southern border. We request that your Administration immediately stop blocking media access to current border operations, and to be straightforward with the American people about what is truly happening at our southern border.
Sincerely, Chip Roy Member of Congress
Tom McClintock Member of Congress
Liz Cheney Member of Congress
Andy Biggs Member of Congress
Glenn Grothman Member of Congress
Randy K. Weber Member of Congress
Ted Budd Member of Congress
Ann Wagner Member of Congress
W. Gregory Steube Member of Congress
Jody Hice Member of Congress
Bill Posey Member of Congress
Jake LaTurner Member of Congress
Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. Member of Congress
Ashley Hinson Member of Congress
Tracey Mann Member of Congress
Lisa McClain Member of Congress
Marjorie Taylor Greene Member of Congress
James R. Baird Member of Congress
Dan Bishop Member of Congress
Madison Cawthorn Member of Congress
Brian Babin, D.D.S. Member of Congress
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter Member of Congress |