Advertisement

Fact check: Screenshot of purported New York Post headline about immigration is satire

The claim: New York Post reported Biden sought to ban photos, videos at Mexico border

A Jan. 9 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a screenshot that looks similar to a New York Post article, with a headline above photos of President Joe Biden and a man climbing a fence at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Biden administration is asking House leaders to draft legislation forbidding private citizens or media outlets from filming or photographing illegal aliens as they enter from Mexico," reads the start of the lengthy purported headline.

The post was shared more than 25 times in two weeks, while a version shared on Twitter was retweeted more than 1,600 times.

Many commenters appeared to believe the headline was legitimate.

"Biden can talk all he wants but I'm still videoing everything and anything I want. It's my constitutional right," reads one comment.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Our rating: Satire

The headline in the post is not authentic. It doesn't appear anywhere on the New York Post's website or verified social media accounts. In the image, the name of the publication reads "New Fork Post," and the byline reads "By Veterans Take Back, Political Goof."

No evidence of a proposal banning photos or videos at the border

There is no evidence that the headline shown in the post appears anywhere on the New York Post's website or verified social media accounts.

The New York Post did not respond to a request for comment.

The screenshot is made to look like a legitimate New York Post article, but the name of the publication has been changed to read "New Fork Post" and the byline reads "By Veterans Take Back, Political Goof."

Fact check: CNN headline about Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest was digitally altered

There are also no credible reports of any legislation similar to what is described in the purported headline.

In September 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union reached an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection that, after a years-long legal battle, protects the public’s right to take photos and videos from publicly accessible areas at all U.S. land ports of entry.

Biden made a widely reported visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Jan. 8, his first stop there as president, but none of that coverage made any mention of the supposed legislation described in the post.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment.

Check Your Fact and Reuters also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Image of purported New York Post article isn't real