Ayub Ibrahim had just emerged from the jungle, his feet still sore from the long journey. Having left Somalia a month ago to escape civil war, he traveled through Turkey, Brazil, and the Darién Gap. Now, resting at the San Vicente migrant camp in Panama, he was suddenly approached by a group of Americans with cameras.
“Do you support Ilhan Omar?” one person asked. “What do you think of Joe Biden?” Mr. Ibrahim shared his thoughts, expressing admiration for Ilhan Omar and stating that he believed Joe Biden was a good president. Feeling ambushed and confused by the questions, he didn’t intend to make a political statement.
However, before he knew it, Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist, had posted an edited video of their conversation online. The video quickly gained traction, spreading misinformation about Somali immigrants supporting Ilhan Omar and Joe Biden inside the migrant camp.
As immigration continues to be a key issue in the upcoming presidential race, right-wing media has been sharing deceptive videos of migrants traveling through the Darién Gap. These videos, often edited and sensationalized, portray migrants as threats and blame President Biden for the influx of immigrants.
Many of these videos can be traced back to Michael Yon, a former Green Beret who organizes tours for right-wing journalists, politicians, and social media influencers to visit the Darién Gap. These visitors often engage with migrants, asking politically loaded questions and misrepresenting their responses to fit a specific narrative.
The content produced by these visits is then used by influencers and media figures to fuel anti-immigrant sentiments and promote false narratives about the crisis at the border. By focusing on Muslim and Chinese migrants, they create a distorted view of the situation, ignoring the majority of migrants who come from South America and the Caribbean.
Critics warn that this inflammatory coverage exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, putting migrants at risk and justifying harsh treatment against them. Organizations like UNICEF have spoken out against the misrepresentation of migrants and the dangerous consequences it has on their lives.
Overall, the tours organized by Michael Yon and the content shared by right-wing media contribute to the spread of misinformation and create a divisive and harmful narrative about immigration.
