Feb. 17: The AP Botches It | Archive
The Claim: “Trump weighs mobilizing Nat Guard for immigration roundups.”
The Source: The Associated Press (Archive).
The Facts: There is a lot wrong with this story. From overselling the leaked Department of Homeland Security memo on which the entire report hinges, to failing to provide proof that Trump was even aware of draft proposal, readers would be wise to remain skeptical of the AP report.
To be clear, the draft memo mentioned in the story is definitely real, as confirmed by DHS officials. It’s just that it doesn’t say what the AP reported.
For example, the memo didn’t specifically suggest nationalizing the National Guard, as suggested by AP’s reporting. The draft memo also never used the 100,000 figure referenced by the AP, though it’s possible the news group got this number by tallying the National Guard units currently stationed in the 11 states where they would supposedly be used to crack down on illegal immigration. If that’s how the AP got its 100,000 figure, which, again, it doesn’t explain, it means they reported an assumption, not a fact.
Lastly, just to be clear, the word “deportation” is never used in the memo. As far as National Guard troops are concerned, the memo only floats the idea of giving them the authority to assist in the “investigation, apprehension and detention” of criminal aliens.
“We stand by our reporting,” the group’s spokeswoman, Laura Easton, told the Washington Examiner.
The AP said it gave the White House at least 24 hours to respond to requests for comment, and said no one took them up on their offer. Amazingly enough, the AP also said it didn’t contact DHS until the morning of the story’s publication.
BREAKING: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 17, 2017
Alright, looking at a copy of the draft memo now. It never suggests nationalizing the Guard. It’s an extension of 287(g). Here’s it is: pic.twitter.com/Su8I8dQn6p
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) February 17, 2017
The Independent Journal Review posted this thorough article: “We Fact-Checked AP’s Report Trump May Deploy 100,000 National Guard to Round Up ‘Unauthorized Immigrants’”
