During a press briefing on Wednesday, President Biden claimed a report that his administration would shell out $450,000 to illegal immigrants whose families were separated at the border was “garbage” and the payments were “not going to happen.” But during a press briefing on Thursday, the administration admitted that they were going to give those illegals a payday for an undisclosed amount of money. It was not mentioned by the broadcast media (ABC/NBC, CBS, or NBC) at any time on both days.
The highly unreported story that the Justice Department was negotiating large cash settlements for illegal immigrants on Thursday evening wasn’t covered by the three news broadcasters. Instead, they all glowered at the approaching cold snap. The Ahmaud Abery trial’s 11 white jurors were racial, as the three broadcasters feared his family might not be able to find justice with one black jury.
So, while the broadcast networks were stoking racial resentment, Fox News Channel’s Special ReportAsk the hard questions. “Now to the complete 180 tonight from the Biden administration on whether it will pay huge compensation to illegal immigrants separated from family members at the U.S. southern border under the previous administration,” announced anchor Bret Baier. “A story that was really dismissed by the President and top Democrats.”
After recalling how Biden had dismissed the story as “garbage” on Wednesday, White House correspondent Peter Doocy began by proclaiming: “Their story is changing, as the White House now confirms cash payments for some illegal immigrants separated from family members at the border.”
During the Thursday press briefing, Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (filling in for Press Secretary Jen Psaki since she has COVID) informed the press pool that her boss was now “perfectly comfortable with the Department of Justice settling with the individuals and families who are currently in litigation with the U.S. government.”
But as Doocy’s interactions with the administration prove, they’re not being entirely honest about what the price range was:
DOOCY: But if it’s not – if he’s okay with $450,000 how much is okay with giving to illegal immigrants?
JEAN-PIERRE: This is something—again Peter, this is something that the Department of Justice is going to handle.
[Cuts back to live]
DOOCY: They keep referring us to the Department of Justice; and when we ask them, they say, on the record, “no comment.” We know that negotiations are ongoing, though, to make these payments the President told me very forcefully yesterday were not going to be made.
And according to Doocy, former HUD secretary, “Democrat Julian Castro defends the six-figure paydays. Quote, ‘These aren’t payments, they’re legal settlements to families who were wronged by the U.S. government.’”
“And if officials around here say $450,000 is too much then we can accurately report that those payments will be up to $449,000,” he quipped to Baier.
Baier laughed at the joke and clarified the facts that while the government was expected to pay large cash payments, it was still unknown what the final price would be.
BAIER: But that is what they’re hanging their pushback on, right? He said it’s unlikely to happen, and specifically that he meant 450,000 instead of 300 or 400.
DOOCY: I think so. But, Bret. If that was what the President meant then he could just have said that. I asked him a very direct question. I asked him a direct question. He completely dismissed this idea.
It is possible for broadcast media to portray the payments as Biden resolving an administration wrong. But their silence is telling as they see Biden’s approval hitting new lows and Republicans just pulled off a massive upset in Virginia on Election Day.
This important story of immigration was omitted because of lucrative sponsorships by PrevagenABC News SimpliSafeCBS: FidelityNBC. You can find their contact information linked to let you know about biased news that they finance.
You can find the transcript below. To read it, please click on “expand”.
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
November 4, 2021
Eastern at 6:04 and 14 p.m.BRET BAIER: Let’s now see the Biden Administration do a complete 180 on the issue of whether or not it will compensate illegal immigrants who were separated from their families at the U.S. Southern Border under its previous administration. The President and the top Democrats quickly dismissed this story. Here’s White House correspondent Peter Doocy.
[Cuts to video]
PETER DOOCY – Their story is changing as the White House confirms that cash payments will be made to illegal immigrants who are separated from their families at the border.
KARINE JEANPIERRE, White House Deputy Press Secretary: President Obama is happy with the Department of Justice’s settlement with individuals and families currently involved in U.S. court proceedings.
DOOCY: That’s confirming a report the President himself dismissed.
JOE BIDDEN, PRESIDENT: This is not correct. [Transition]You can get it for $450,000 [Transition]It’s unlikely.
DOOCY : Only for a differing dollar amount.
JEAN-PIERRE : The DOJ informed the plaintiffs that reported numbers are much higher than any settlement could land.
DOOCY: The ACLU is blaming this confusion on bad staffing saying, “President Biden may not have been fully briefed about the actions of his very own Justice Department.”
LINDSEY GRAM (R-SC), SEN. LINDSEY: Did he mislead us?
DOOCY: House Republicans are now pushing legislation to block these payments, Congressman Tom McClintock is sponsoring the measure and writes: “Who says crime doesn’t pay? Under Biden it apparently pays very well indeed.”
JOHN THUNE, R-SD: Biden claims he doesn’t know. But I think another example of disarray here in Washington with one hand not doing — knowing what the other one’s doing.
DOOCY – Julian Castro (Democrat) defends the six figure paydays. Quote, “These aren’t payments, they’re legal settlements to families who were wronged by the U.S. government.”
Senator Tom Cotton however compares cash to reparations.
SEN. TOMCOTTON (R – AR): How about compensation for families whose children were killed in an opioid overdose? This is absurd.
DOOCY; It’s happening, and we have more information.
But if it’s not – if he’s okay with $450,000 how much is okay with giving to illegal immigrants?
JEAN-PIERRE: This is something—again Peter, this is something that the Department of Justice is going to handle.
[Cuts back to live]
DOOCY: They keep referring us to the Department of Justice; and when we ask them, they say, on the record, “no comment.” We know that negotiations are ongoing, though, to make these payments the President told me very forcefully yesterday were not going to be made. If $450,000 seems excessive, then we can report that the payments could be as high as $449,000. Keep it.
BAIER: But that is what they’re hanging their pushback on, right? He said it’s unlikely to happen, and specifically that he meant 450,000 instead of 300 or 400.
DOOCY : No, Bret. However, it’s possible that he meant that if that is what the President intended, he could simply say that. I asked him a very direct question. I asked him a direct question. He completely dismissed this idea. He was merely dismissing $450,000. But if payments like this were completely out of the question, and now they are saying, “no, no, just the $450,000 payments.”
BAIER: Well, we’ll follow more on this with the panel. Peter Doocy on the North Lawn. Peter, thank you.
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