Associated Press Accused of Hiding Story on Illegal Immigrants Killing Young Girl: Labeled ‘Fundamentally Dishonest
The Associated Press faced criticism for not disclosing that two men arrested for the murder of a young girl in Texas were illegal aliens from Venezuela. The individuals, Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, entered the U.S. illegally and were each charged with capital murder in the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement noted that both men entered the U.S. without proper authorization and were previously apprehended and released by U.S. Border Patrol earlier in the year. The criticism centered on AP’s omission of the immigration status of the accused in their reporting.
The Associated Press faced backlash online this week after they failed to inform readers that two men who were arrested for allegedly murdering a young girl in Texas were illegal aliens who recently entered the country under President Joe Biden.
The two illegal aliens from Venezuela — Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26 — were each charged this week with capital murder stemming from the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
“Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. “On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended.”
The Associated Press completely excluded from their report the fact that the two men illegally entered the U.S. over the last few months and that they were released into the country by the Biden administration.
Investigators said that Nungaray was murdered via strangulation and police were able to trace the movements the suspects before and after the killing by using surveillance videos.
Prosecutors said that the defendants “lured” Nungaray “under a bridge” where they “remained with her for over two hours, took her pants off, tied her up and killed her, then threw her body into the bayou.”
The publication faced significant criticism online for excluding the connection between illegal immigration and the death of the young girl.
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“AP is fundamentally dishonest,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). “Entire story doesn’t mention that the murderers were ILLEGAL ALIENS. This is not journalism. And hundreds of smaller outlets will run this word-for-word.”
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) added: “This is what actual misinformation looks like. The AP is hiding the key part of the story to protect Joe Biden.”
Political commentator Erick Erickson posted: “Doing heavy lifting for the Democrats’ agenda, @AP fails to include the detail that the suspects are illegal aliens.”
“Not only does AP not mention that both suspects are illegal aliens who were both recently caught & released at border, they don’t even mention that they are from Venezuela, which police publicly disclosed,” said Fox News border correspondent Bill Melugin. “Media across the country will use AP wires/reporting on this.”
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