The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly accused ABC7 Eyewitness News of ideological censorship, alleging the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to edit and alter its statements regarding immigration enforcement actions. DHS criticized the outlet for modifying statements, removing criminal background information, and presenting a biased narrative.

Allegations of AI Manipulation

DHS alleges that ABC7 used AI to tailor its coverage to fit a pre-existing narrative bias. This involved modifying DHS’s original statements, removing critical details about the criminal backgrounds of individuals arrested, and misrepresenting key facts. The incident in question involved arrests made outside a courthouse in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Specific Editing Concerns

DHS criticized ABC7's handling of its response to an inquiry about the arrests. DHS posted side-by-side comparisons on X, showing the original detailed response they provided to ABC7 and a subsequent version published by the news outlet. The comparisons revealed significant edits made by ABC7.

Content Alterations

  • Alteration of terms like "criminal illegal aliens" to "individuals" and "criminal illegal alien" to "national."
  • Omission of key details about the circumstances of arrested individuals, such as their release by the Biden administration after entering the United States illegally.
  • Reformatting the response using AI to align with journalistic standards.

    • Details of Arrests and DHS Response

    The immigration enforcement actions at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse led to the arrest of several individuals. DHS provided details about their immigration status and criminal history.

    Individuals Arrested

    • Godofredo Chiquete-Lopez: A criminal illegal alien from Mexico with a history of assault with a deadly weapon and hit and run. DHS stated ICE had requested his transfer, but this request was not honored by San Bernardino authorities.
    • Alexander Pacheco-Sabogal: A criminal illegal alien from Colombia with a prior battery arrest. He was subject to an immigration detainer that California authorities failed to honor. Pacheco-Sabogal had entered the U.S. illegally and was released by the Biden administration in 2022.
    • Cesar Andres Mendez-Garzon: An illegal alien from Colombia who illegally entered the U.S. in 2023 and was released into the community.

      • DHS Spokesperson's Statement

      A DHS spokesperson emphasized the need for cooperation between state and local law enforcement and DHS to ensure public safety. The spokesperson stressed that sanctuary policies have serious consequences and cited statistics about cities cooperating with ICE.

      The spokesperson indicated that the arrests were executed due to a lack of cooperation from local law enforcement, which is wasting resources and putting citizens in danger. ABC7's initial reporting allegedly falsely stated that DHS had not responded to the inquiry, only amending the report after social media criticism.