The Associated Press published a story on Thursday about alleged abuse of child immigrants that buried the fact that the abuse began during the Obama administration.
The AP story focuses on court filings from Latino teens who allege that they were abused while being held in an immigration detention facility. The allegations are horrific, with one young immigrant claiming, “Whenever they used to restrain me and put me in the chair, they would handcuff me … They have total control over you. They also put a bag over your head. It has little holes; you can see through it. But you feel suffocated with the bag on.”
The article mentions President Donald Trump and his administration’s zero-tolerance policy at least four times in the first ten paragraphs, leaving the implicit suggestion that the Trump administration is responsible for the alleged abuse.
It is only when the reader gets to the 20th paragraph of the story that they discover the allegations stem back to at least 2016 — during President Obama’s administration.
Nevertheless, the article declines to ever even mention Obama’s name.
Immigrant children at detention center sue for 2015 and 2016 abuses including being strapped to a chair naked with sack over head.
Word count “Trump” – 5
Word count “Obama” – 0https://t.co/b34T2G9w9Hht @JammieWF
— Razor (@hale_razor) June 21, 2018
Alleged abuses took place under Obama admin, FWIW. https://t.co/T8pH1pMdZA
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) June 21, 2018
AP knows very few people read beyond the headline. Easy to way to boost The Narrative™️ https://t.co/4dNKOXvI32
— Gabby Morrongiello (@gabriellahope_) June 21, 2018
People tweeting this horrific piece detailing abuse of illegal immigrant children should check the dates on the allegations (hint they’re during the Obama administration) https://t.co/d41pmnPUXB
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) June 21, 2018