According to a Getty Images photographer at the crossroads, the media has had “zero access” to the U.S.-Mexico border under President Biden.
Journalists have flocked to the border in recent weeks to cover the crisis as tens of thousands of Central American immigrants, including unaccompanied children, attempted the dangerous journey.
But, according to lentman John Moore, they have encountered restrictive conditions, with US authorities hampering their ability to tell the story.
“I respectfully call on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to its border operations,” Moore tweeted Friday. “I’ve photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump, but now there’s zero access to the media.”
In the thread, Moore included dramatic shots of the crossing that, unable to work in the U.S., he said he took from the Mexican side of the border using a telephoto lens.
“Until now, American photojournalists had not needed to be in another country to photograph what is happening, in the United States.” He wrote.
Moore said he and other reporters they have been escorted of the crossing by Border Patrol agents recently.
“There is no modern precedent for a total physical ban on media access to CBP’s border operations,” He wrote. “For those who can say, cut them a little bit, as they are facing a situation, I would say showing the U.S. response to the current increase in immigrants is exactly the role of the media.
“Photographing border patrol officers and immigrant encounters can and has been done respectfully without interfering with operations,” it continued.
Moore also rejected the idea that such restrictions could be justified under coronavirus regulations.
“And pandemic restrictions are not a valid excuse to block physical access to the media, especially to operations outside.” He wrote. “There are alternative options that are easy to use in the media.
“Showing the difficult and important work of @cbp agents in the field, while photographing immigrants in a dignified manner are not mutually exclusive efforts,” added. “Transparency is key, even in a politicized environment.”
Biden administration officials have repeatedly promised media access to border conditions, including facilities where children are detained, but have not yet set a difficult date when reviews can begin.
On Sunday morning, Fox News host Chris Wallace clashed with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the issue, wondering why reporters could not accompany Mayorkas on their own border visit last week.
Mayorkas fell back into the pandemic to explain the lack of access, promising to provide images of the conditions.
The Post has witnessed first-hand restrictions during a recent trip to the border.
Last week, during a trip to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, a Post reporter saw Border Patrol agents investigating a house believed to be used as a home for stolen vehicles. and contraband migrants.
Agents explicitly told The Post not to photograph them.
Later, deputies from the Hidalgo County Constable’s office similarly warned not to take photos or videos of border patrol personnel.
“They are also orders they have, because I guess they don’t want to admit that a crisis is happening,” speculated one MP, who noted that the camera’s directive was transmitted to the Border Patrol last month, when the photograph “no “really” has been seen as a problem in the past.
“They don’t want anything to leak,” the deputy continued. “But it already is.”