OK, we can understand why the Associated Press went with a click-bait headline to sell its story, “Deportations take unique toll on blended American families.” Deportations aren’t really hot anymore — the news cycle has moved on to about three other shiny objects since then — but the AP did what it could to spice things up:
She voted for Trump but now: “I’m ashamed.” A Missouri woman feels the anguish after her daughter-in-law gets deported, leaving behind a husband, child and life in America. https://t.co/NV3DDUNpPk
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 23, 2018
Stupid woman, voting for Trump. What did she think was going to happen to her illegal immigrant daughter-in-law?
If you stick with the story, it only takes 24 paragraphs to get to the line, “Officially, Stegall’s deportation process began under President Barack Obama.”
If you make it 19 paragraphs in, you learn that authorities only learned that Letty Stegall was in the U.S. illegally when she was arrested for drunk driving.
But the AP certainly did succeed in ramping up anger at Trump — and especially at the woman who admitted voting for him — almost as if it were intentional.
The #BuryingTheLede count: 25.
It was 20 paragraphs before it was mentioned that she was arrested (DUI) and spent a month in jail, thus alerting ICE of her illegal status. Paragraph 25 revealed that "Officially, Stegall’s deportation process began under President #BarackObama."
— (((L.N. Smithee))) (@LNSmithee) July 24, 2018
No doubt it’s a sad story for all involved. And Barack Obama racked up literally millions of sad stories during his administration. But if we’re going to make (and enforce) immigration law based on sad stories in the press, we won’t have a border much longer.
Recommended
I read as many of these stories as I can because I think if you're going to advocate for a policy you should know about and accept the costs of it. But there's almost always a kicker to these stories…the crime they committed beyond illegal entry. In this case DUI. https://t.co/yRAdJqSTTw
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) July 24, 2018
I'm always fascinated by what crime has to be downplayed as not all that important. DUI is my favorite example in the genre because if it's anyone but an illegal alien, it's a VERY SERIOUS crime. But an illegal alien? Suddenly it's, "hey, who among us amirite?"
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) July 24, 2018
And I'm a bit of a squish because I think stories about legal aliens getting the boot for this sort of thing years, sometimes decades later is unfair and cruel. But illegal aliens? Meh, you already broke one law, I see no reason for two bites at the illegal apple.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) July 24, 2018
And as for reading all this genuinely sad stories about people being deported because I think you need to own your policy choices…I'd love to see more stories about the victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens. But those stories aren't approved of so not so many are told.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) July 24, 2018
One of our local sportscasters was killed by one of the above…DUI aliens. We’ve been fuming for several years over it here. He was on a scooter on a Sunday morning, doing something mundane…like going for a paper. SMDH
— Doc Hughes? (@DrKenHughes) July 24, 2018
Look at Edwin Jackson, LB for the Indy Colts. Drunk driver killed Jackson and his Uber driver. Illegal alien, .19 BAC, previously deported twice, tried to flee scene, forged identity, etc.
— Jonathan Schafer (@jschaf01) July 24, 2018
And don’t forget that “immigrant” who killed Kate Steinle; nice tweet, AP.
BREAKING: Immigrant acquitted of killing woman on San Francisco pier is sentenced to time served for gun charge.
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 5, 2018
Related:
'This is a DISGRACE'! Notice anything missing from this AP tweet about Kate Steinle's killer? https://t.co/W5P7y64Z8e
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 5, 2018
Join the conversation as a VIP Member