KYMA apologizes for reporters’ conduct

They are accused of misrepresenting themselves to gain access to BP migrant detention area

KYMA has suspended two of its reporters pending an internal investigation by management for failing to properly identify themselves to officials.

The suspensions come three days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted a statement on its website accusing the journalists of misrepresenting themselves to get inside the Yuma Sector Border Patrol’s Centralized Processing Center, where migrant children are being held.

“This breach in security was unnecessary, violated our good faith efforts to work together on important stories and put everyone at risk,” said Andrew Meehan, assistant commissioner for public affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “We are disappointed in the journalist as well as the network for this behavior.”

News anchor Jenny Day made an on-air apology to the Yuma Sector Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection during KYMA’s 5 p.m. newscast on Thursday, in which she said the station takes full responsibility for the conduct taken by two of its reporters.

“The employees did attempt to work through proper channels leading up to their arrival, but there is no excuse for them failing to be completely transparent once on site,” Day said.

According to Custom and Border Protection, the incident happened Monday, during what was the first of two days of scheduled attorney-client privileged visits by local immigration attorneys to interview migrant children, and to ensure conditions inside the facility met the requirements outlined in the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement.

In the statement CBP explains that, instead of going through the established protocols, three TV reporters from Yuma stations posed as translators accompanying the attorneys in an attempt to gain entry into the Centralized Processing Center. While two the reporters were identified and turned away at the door, the third reporter, however, actually made it inside the facility. The names of the reporters will not be released publicly and KYMA did not do a story on the Centralized Processing Center that evening on any of its newscasts, which the reporters were there to cover.

In its statement, CBP did not indicate how long the reporter was inside the facility before she was found out, whether she was able to speak with any children, or if she took any video. When contacted, the agency stated that it had no further information to add. The Yuma Sector Border Patrol has also declined to comment on the matter.

The agency also included in its statement that it is committed to being transparent and accountable to the public, and regularly works with the media, nongovernmental organizations and members of Congress to maintain that trust.

The agency further states that over the past several weeks, it has worked to ensure that members of the media have access to CBP’s Centralized Processing Centers by establishing protocol to allow reporters to receive tours and has released video and pictures to assist them in telling their story.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.

“This breach in security was unnecessary, violated our good faith efforts to work together on important stories and put everyone at risk.” – Andrew Meehan, assistant commissioner for public affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection