May 2023 Right-Wing Media Report

May Summary:

During the May tracking period, there were 6,896 negative immigration mentions across right-wing media outlets to an estimated audience of over 17,015,783,522 people worth an estimated $477,320,364 dollars in publicity. There were 50,011 mentions on Twitter to an audience of 752,080,140 people.

The majority of overall immigration mentions revolved around the retirement of US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz and obviously the ending of Title 42, with right wing media figures claiming that the “damage would be incalculable and that we would see “football fields” of people trying to come into the country. Other spikes were caused by anti-immigration legislation passed in Florida and general coverage of fentanyl and the border.

• The first spike was on May 2nd, due to Ron DeSantis being sent an anti-immigration bill passed by the Florida legislature for his signature. There was a Fox News article claiming the Biden administration admitted their border policy has been a failure. Another article from the Daily Caller detailed how Trump DHS Officials criticized Biden for sending 1,500 troops to the border, calling it “pathetically weak.” 
• Next spike was May 8th and it mostly focused on the looming end of Title 42. An article from the Daily Caller quoted Rick Perry as “suspicious” over Biden’s border plan and said it would “dilute the American voting public.” Another Daily Caller article quoted a NY county official who threatened to sue Eric Adams if he sent migrants to the suburbs, saying “our concern is public safety.” There was a similar Daily Caller article focused on NY claiming the city was spending $8 Million per day to house migrants. Sean Hannity on Fox News claimed that “Biden couldn’t care less about the border, he’s more worried about Hunter.” Tim Scott was also on Fox News saying that the US border is insecure, unsafe and wide open.
• Next spike was May 11th as Title 42 ended. The right wing continued to focus on NY, with a Daily Caller article claiming that the city was pleading with private property owners to house migrants as Title 42 ends. Another Daily Caller article claimed that border agents were worried ahead of Title 42’s End, quoting them as saying they were, “dreading going into work.” The Daily Caller also had a clip of a CNN Analyst who said the “massive surge of illegal immigration under Biden has nothing to do with him.” A One America News clip blamed immigrants for lower wages, saying, “many illegal immigrants enter your neighborhoods. They are driving down wages because they will work for much less. So if you’re already in an impoverished area you’re in a neighbor that doesn’t have a lot of economic opportunity that just got wiped out because these illegals are gonna work for much less than what you were getting.” A Breitbart article quoted Ken Paxton as saying that the detriment to “national sovereignty, border security, and the safety of American citizens” caused by ending Title 42 “cannot be overstated.” Laura Ingraham claimed on Fox News that the collateral damage from ending Title 42 would be “incalculable.” Sara Carter was also on Fox News and claimed we have ‘football fields’ of people trying to come into the country.
• Next spike was May 15th, notoriously more subdued than other spikes and with less mentions of Title 42 as the expected surge at the border did not materialize. There was a Daily Caller article claiming the Taliban is handing out ‘visas and passports’ to terrorists who can end up at the border.” An interview from One America News with JD Vance had him quoted saying, “you have municipalities like chicago like new york that are giving illegal aliens the right to vote that completely destroys the voting power of american citizens in those jurisdictions and if you think the democrats won’t try to do this in presidential elections, you’re completely kidding yourselves.” Another One America News clip added to border hysteria saying, “Now that title 42 is no longer in place, advance says the border has become overrun with illegal migrants.” Sarah Palin told Newsmax, “putting migrants over veterans is sickening.” An interview with Darrell Issa on One America News saw him claim that individuals on the terror watch list were crossing the border.
• Next spike was May 23rd. The Daily Caller had an article that had negative coverage of the bipartisan immigration reform introduced by Rep. Escobar and Rep. Salazar. Another Daily Caller article detailed how Rep. Troy Nehls criticized the Biden Administration for “allowing an alleged murderer with MS-13 ties to enter the US.” There was also coverage on the Daily Caller about the Texas AG suing the Biden Administration over a “major immigration program.” Breitbart news had an article saying the “Chamber of Commerce backs Rep. Salazar amnesty for millions of illegal aliens.”
• Last spike was on May 30th although it was not a big one. There was coverage regarding Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz retiring. DeSantis kicked off an Iowa campaign tour with a speech that saw him mention the “the surge of illegal migrants at the southern border.” Greg Abbott in Texas also called a special session to address “border issues” with anti-immigrant legislation.