John Dickerson, co-anchor of CBS Evening News, misled viewers when he claimed that illegal border crossings are at their lowest since the Trump administration, ignoring the reality that over 10 million migrants have crossed into the United States during President Joe Biden’s time in office. His statement downplayed the significant surge seen under the Biden administration, focusing on a misleading short-term trend.
CBS's John Dickerson: "We know the parties are ideologically put opposed, but there's also a division on basic facts. One example, the border. Migration has at its lowest level since the Trump administration. But the polls show not everyone sees it that way, do they?"
Weijia… pic.twitter.com/6XcfsNFZSr
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 14, 2024
Dickerson made the comment during a conversation with CBS’s Weijia Jiang, who shared polling data showing a stark division between Democrats and Republicans on border security. While 67% of Democrats believe the administration has worked to reduce the number of migrants, 65% of Republicans think Biden’s policies have allowed migration to increase.
By focusing on recent monthly numbers, CBS failed to give viewers the full picture, omitting the cumulative total of illegal crossings over the past three years. This number far exceeds the levels seen under President Donald Trump, who implemented policies aimed at reducing illegal immigration.
Conservative critics have long accused mainstream media of downplaying the severity of the crisis at the southern border. By selectively presenting data, outlets like CBS shield the Biden administration from accountability, leaving border communities to deal with the real consequences of this surge.
CBS’s John Dickerson GASLIGHTS Viewers on Migration, Expects Them to Pretend 10M+ Border Crossings Never Happened https://t.co/YA9CazmSZs
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) October 15, 2024
Communities in states like Texas and Arizona are overwhelmed, with law enforcement and healthcare systems stretched thin due to the ongoing crisis. Despite these challenges, Dickerson’s report failed to address the long-term impact of the administration’s border policies.
Many blame the Biden administration’s rollback of Trump-era immigration measures for the massive increase in crossings. These changes, combined with a lack of clear enforcement, have contributed to the current state of chaos at the border, which shows no signs of slowing down.
“Don’t take the bait.” CBS News’ John Dickerson explains how the media should cover Donald Trump as a presidential candidate. (Video: CBS) pic.twitter.com/LWm3sNHybY
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 2, 2023
