MSNBC used footage from seven years ago, when Barack Obama was president, to claim that the Trump administration has denied water to illegal aliens.
“One of the issues was dehydration. We’re going to show you some video ... but there is video of Border Patrol agents dumping water on the ground—water that was meant to be left for migrants. This is from a Tucson-based aid group,” Reid said.
The footage was then broadcast showing several Border Patrol agents destroying containers of water in the desert.
No date was shown for the footage and no other context was given, leading viewers to believe that the footage was recorded recently.
Reid then asked two Democratic lawmakers if they knew if water was being provided to migrants when apprehended after crossing illegally into the United States.
The segment went on for 42 seconds before showing the Jan. 1, 2011, date for the Border Patrol footage. The date was shown for approximately 2.5 seconds, then disappeared before the file footage kept playing as one of the lawmakers spoke.
On Dec. 16, Reid referred to the footage and, again, failed to give context to viewers, speaking as if it had been recorded recently. “We saw Border patrol dumping water that was meant for desperate migrants, being dumped out on the ground.”
She then blamed the actions of the Border Patrol agents in 2011 on the Trump administration. “This sort of extravagant cruelty is unusual for any administration, but for this administration, they seem to think it’s effective for their base,” Reid claimed.
Obama was still president in 2011 and remained president until 2016. As of 2 p.m., Dec. 17, Reid has not apologized for the erroneous and damaging report.
Another host at the network also used the 2011 footage.
O'Donnell has also not corrected his inaccurate connection with the dated footage. MSNBC has not issued an apology or correction for any of the three segments.
After the dated footage of the Border Patrol agents was released earlier this year by “No More Deaths,” a group that says it wants to help people cross the border without getting injured or dying, the Border Patrol said it was aware of the 2011 footage.
“Border Patrol has invested in a wide-range of programs, resources and infrastructure to allow agents to accomplish their border security mission and preserve human life. Unfortunately, most who choose to enter the U.S. unlawfully are unprepared for the harsh desert environment and life-threatening dangers they will face. Border Patrol advises anyone in need of assistance, or any person who encounters someone in distress, to call 9-1-1 or activate a rescue beacon.”