The Associated Press (AP) is facing severe criticism for failing to mention the immigration status of two men charged with the murder of a young girl in Texas. The suspects, both illegal aliens from Venezuela, were reportedly released into the U.S. under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have been charged with the capital murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the suspects entered the U.S. illegally and were apprehended near El Paso, Texas, before being released with a notice to appear in court.
ICE confirmed, “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.” Martinez was apprehended on March 14, and Pena on May 28; both were released on the same day of their apprehension.
Despite these critical details, the AP’s report on the murder did not include information about the suspects’ illegal entry into the country or their release by immigration authorities. This omission has led to a backlash from various quarters, including politicians and media figures.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) lambasted the AP for its coverage, stating, “AP is fundamentally dishonest. 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.”
Similarly, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) accused the AP of spreading misinformation by omitting essential facts to protect the Biden administration. “This is what actual misinformation looks like. The AP is hiding the key part of the story to protect Joe Biden,” Hagerty remarked.
Political commentator Erick Erickson also criticized the AP for its perceived bias, stating, “Doing heavy lifting for the Democrats’ agenda, @AP fails to include the detail that the suspects are illegal aliens.”
The crime itself was brutal, with prosecutors describing how Martinez and Pena lured Nungaray under a bridge, assaulted her, and then strangled her before disposing of her body in the bayou. Surveillance footage played a crucial role in tracking the suspects’ movements before and after the crime, leading to their arrest.
Fox News border correspondent Bill Melugin highlighted that the AP’s report did not even mention that the suspects were from Venezuela, despite this information being publicly disclosed by police. “Media across the country will use AP wires/reporting on this,” Melugin warned, emphasizing the widespread impact of the AP’s omissions.
The AP’s failure to provide a complete account of the suspects’ backgrounds in its reporting has sparked a broader discussion about media transparency and accountability. Critics argue that such omissions can skew public perception and undermine trust in the media, especially on sensitive issues like immigration.
As the case continues to unfold, the debate over media responsibility and the importance of full disclosure in news reporting remains at the forefront, highlighting the need for comprehensive and unbiased journalism.
