The media obtained “zero access” at the United States’ border with Mexico under President Biden, according to a Getty Images photographer at the crossing site.
Journalists have flocked to the border in recent weeks to cover the crisis, as tens of thousands of Central American migrants – including unaccompanied children – attempted the dangerous journey.
But, according to lensman John Moore, they encountered restrictive conditions, with U.S. officials hampering their ability to tell the story.
“I respectfully ask the US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to its border operations,” tweeted Moore on Friday. “I photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump, but now – zero access is granted to the media.”
In the topic, Moore included dramatic photos of the crossing – which, unable to function in the United States, he said he took from the Mexican side of the border using a telephoto lens.
“So far, photojournalists in the United States have not had to go to another country to photograph what is happening – in the United States,” He wrote.
Moore said that he and other journalists were escorted away of the passage by agents of the Border Patrol recently.
“There is no modern precedent for a total physical ban on media access to CBP border operations”, He wrote. “For those who can say, give them a break – they are dealing with a situation, I would say that showing the US response to the current increase in immigrants is exactly the role of the media.
“Photographing agents of the Border Patrol and encounters with immigrants can and has been done with respect, without interfering with operations,” He continued.
Moore also rejected the idea that such restrictions could be justified by coronavirus regulations.
“And restrictions on the pandemic are not a valid excuse to block access to physical media, especially for external operations,” He wrote. “There are easy alternative options for media travel.
“Showing @cbp agents’ difficult and important work in the field, while photographing dignified immigrants are not mutually exclusive efforts”. he added. “Transparency is essential, even in a politicized environment.”
Biden government officials have repeatedly promised media access to conditions at the border – including inside facilities where detained children are held – but have not yet defined when the reviews can begin.
On Sunday morning, Fox News presenter Chris Wallace argued with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the issue, questioning why reporters were unable to accompany Mayorkas on his visit to the border last week.
Mayorkas resorted to the pandemic to explain the lack of access, promising to provide images of the conditions.
The Post witnessed the restrictions first hand during a recent trip to the border.
During a ride with the Texas Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office last week, a Post reporter saw Border Patrol agents investigating a house believed to be used as a hideout for stolen cars and smuggled migrants.
The agents explicitly told the Post not to photograph them.
Later, deputies from the Hidalgo County Police Office similarly warned against the capture of photos or videos of Border Patrol personnel.
“They are just orders that they have too, because I think they do not want to admit that there is a crisis”, speculated a deputy, noting that the timid guideline was handed over to the Border Patrol last month, when the photograph “not really” was seen as a problem in the past.
“They don’t want anything to leak,” continued the deputy. “But it already is.”