Media Offered Undocumented Minors Tour with Long List of Conditions

by: JimCardle
2014-07-14
Source: texasinsider
01/08/2020

No recording devices No questions No interacting with staff or children

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services invited selected media outlets to tour its Ft. Sill Oklahoma holding facility last week to learn first-hand about its operations. But in light of recent national attention being drawn to the federal governments handling of unaccompanied children the proposed tour came with a long list of conditions including:

No recording devices will be allowed
No questions will be allowed during the tour
No interacting with staff and children at the shelter
No on-site interviews by HHS staff before or after the tour
We ask that your questions be provided via email or phone after the tour to Kenneth Wolfe
HHS ACF public affairs will provide answers to your follow-up questions as quickly as possible
We will provide photos of the facility after the tour
All inquiries go to Kenneth Wolfe

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) responded strongly and immediately with its objection to immigrant shelter tour and the Feds placing of such wide-ranging and multiple conditions to the visit.

Banning recording devices and forbidding questions or interaction with shelter staff show a total unwillingness on the part of the federal government to be transparent on one of the most significant and important stories of our time.

RTDNA strongly objects to the HHS restrictions being imposed on the media who choose to participate in this tour" said Mike Cavender Executive Director (right).

Whats worse is to respond only to questions that are emailed or telephoned to HHS after the tour and that the only photo record of the facility will be the one provided by official government photos" Cavender said.

Once again the Obama administration is striving to tightly control media access in direct conflict with the Presidents promise of creating a government that is the most open in history."

RTDNA has called on HHS to immediately rescind the restrictions and allow fully independent news coverage of this tour.

Congressman Jim Bridenstine (right R-OK) expressed a similar position.

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 Administrations failure to enforce the law."

On July 2 Congressman Bridenstine was denied access to the HHS facility at Ft. Sill which currently is housing up to 1200 unaccompanied alien children (UAC) who illegally crossed the southern border into the United States.

Said Cong. Bridenstine who is also a Navy veteran

There is no excuse for denying a Federal Representative from Oklahoma access to a federal facility in Oklahoma where unaccompanied children are being held.

Any Member of Congress should have the legal authority to visit a federal youth detention facility without waiting three weeks.

The Health & Human Services (HHS) official who appeared to be in charge of the facility told Bridenstine he could schedule an appointment for July 21. HHS Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs Ken Wolfe would not take the Congressmans phone call.

The Congressman was told to send Mr. Wolfe an email as that was the preferred method of communication.

Cong. Bridenstines email to Mr. Wolfe included this press release.

After my visit today with the base commander I approached the barracks where the children are housed. A new fence has been erected by HHS completely surrounding the barracks and covered with material to totally obscure the view.

Every gate is chained closed.

I approached a security guard and asked to speak with the manager of the facility. The guard called his supervisor who said no visitors were allowed.

I asked if they were aware that I am a Member of Congress. Eventually the manager came out and said that I would have to go through HHS legislative affairs and that the first chance to visit would be July 21st.

What are they trying to hide?

Bridenstine also pointed out the tour is scheduled for July 10 when Congress is in session thus precluding participation by members of Congress.

Bridenstine has asked the Department to reschedule the tour.

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11.20.2024

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11.19.2024

Media Offered Undocumented Minors Tour with Long List of Conditions

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