‘False Sob Stories’: DHS Spox Lights Into ‘Mainstream Media’ For Doing ‘Bidding’ Of Gangs

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Patricia McLaughlin accused “mainstream media” outlets of aiding violent gangs like Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13 during a Monday Fox News appearance.

A divided three-judge panel from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld an injunction issued March 15 by United States District Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia ordering the Trump administration to turn two planes carrying members of TdA to El Salvador around. McLaughlin told Fox News host Harris Faulkner the coverage of ‘false sob stories’ stemming from the deportations by “mainstream” outlets was “ridiculous and dangerous.”

“We have very intense scrutiny and intelligence assessments for these members of Tren de Aragua that we send to El Salvador and to other prisons. The mainstream media is absolutely doing the bidding of these vicious gang members that they’re sharing false sob stories,” McLaughlin said after Faulkner highlighted a March 24 post by McLaughlin on X.

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“It is very ridiculous and dangerous for law enforcement that they are doing these things. It goes far beyond their social media posts or tattoos, which is the misnomer that many of the mainstream media is relying upon,” McLaughlin continued. “We have very great confidence in our intelligence.”

McLaughlin also accused media outlets of ignoring prominent victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.