Feds move to limit reporters on official visit to Oklahoma holding site for border kids http://t.co/MSWCTPT7ir
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) July 8, 2014
WASHINGTON DC – As members of Congress and reporters ask to visit federal facilities housing children who have been apprehended by the U.S. in recent months, federal officials are slapping limits on members of the news media who want a glimpse inside.
For example, an email sent to news organizations by Jesus Garcia, a public affairs officer for the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, sets out a number of restrictions on reporters if they want to visit “Unaccompanied Alien Children” being held at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
“The purpose of this 40-minute tour is to show members of the press the interior of the shelter and explain the care we provide while these children remain in our custody,” Garcia’s email told reporters.
“The tour guide will detail what goes on from room to room and the services youth are provided on a daily basis,” Garcia added in an email that was forwarded to reporters by Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), who had been barred from visiting the Fort Sill alien children shelter last week.
But the HHS email to reporters made clear that journalists won’t exactly be allowed to do anything related to their jobs while on the tour of the facility at Fort Sill, other than jot some things down in a notebook.
“In order to protect the safety and privacy of the children,” the email set out ‘rules for participation’ for the press corps, which included:
– No recording devices allowed for reporters
– No questions from reporters permitted during the tour
– No interactions with staff or children
– No on-site interviews with HHS staff before or after the tour
– No photos of the facility – photographs will be provided by HHS
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Congressman Jim Bridenstine responds:
Certain members of the media received this morning an invitation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to a showcase “tour” of the HHS facility housing Unaccompanied Alien Children at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. (The email invitation is pasted below.)
Congressman Jim Bridenstine is encouraging members of the media to reject the limitations proposed by HHS. “The idea of no recording devices, no questions, and no interactions is not acceptable. This violates the 1st Amendment. This is not transparent. HHS is trying to muzzle the media and hide the human tragedy that has resulted directly from the Administration’s failure to enforce the law.”
Interestingly, the invitation to the media is for July 10, a date when the House of Representatives is in session thus precluding participation by Members of Congress. The Congressman has not yet received a response from HHS regarding his letter responding to their inquiry of interest in a visit on July 12. (continue reading)