As the crisis worsens at the southern border and more migrants are caught crossing illegally, the Biden administration decided to implement a last-minute “no-fly zone” against the general press on Friday morning, preventing them from further recording with drones and showing images of the thousands of accumulated migrants in makeshift camps underneath the Del Rio, TX bridge.
This decision comes after various images and videos emerged showing thousands of illegal migrants crossing the border by the masses into Del Rio.
One of multiple reporters covering extensively the border crisis had been affected by this new order. Fox News’ Bill Melugin reported that the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a “two week TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)” over the international bridge, meaning that similarly he could no longer operate the network’s drone over the bridge packed with thousands of illegal migrants for two weeks because it is now prohibited due to “special security reasons.”
Nevertheless, on the same day the drone restriction was announced and shortly after Melugin began to raise eyebrows on the decision via social media, the FAA decided to reverse and approve clearance for FOX to continue operating in the “restricted airspace” by Friday evening.
Border Patrol initially requested temporary flight restrictions because they allege drones had been interfering with law enforcement flights on the border, according to the FAA. But they tried to clarify on Thursday evening that “media is able to call the FAA to make requests” to “safely operate” in the area, although having to jump through additional hoops that require a special waiver process.
The special waiver process makes it seem that not just anyone can show up and fly their drones or capture images without the prior approval of the FAA.
Nevertheless, Melugin stated they had never needed to fulfill such bureaucratic requests before and he had been covering issues at the southern border for more than seven months.
Several senators and representatives have raised concerns via social media, alleging it possible “censorship” on behalf of the Biden Administration to keep the dire situation under wraps.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., suggested it be a “coincidence” that this is suddenly happening right as the media attempts to shed light on the humanitarian crisis. He also said the FAA “better be ready” to “explain to Congress why they’re suddenly blocking the media from covering Biden’s border crisis.”
Chaos ensuing, two Department of Homeland Security officials submitted their resignations this week alone, just as the southern border humanitarian crisis worsens, and sanitation and health measures deteriorate. They both report pursuing “other opportunities” as reasons for their untimely departure, with no additional information aside from that.
There appears to be no end or immediate resolution, even as Kamala Harris was assigned months ago to direct task force efforts to curb the deterioration of the southern border. Record-breaking statistics and data reveal that Biden’s border crisis will go on to become the worst border crisis in modern American history.