In the middle of the U.S. government shutdown, reporter Tom Beaumont noticed that the Department of Homeland Security remained well-funded. It was running a major ad campaign to recruit deportation officers, litigators and investigators under President Trump’s immigration agenda. Using AdImpact data, Beaumont found that DHS was targeting its ads specifically in “sanctuary cities” to attract officers frustrated by local immigration policies.
He and Rebecca Santana quickly collaborated on an “Only on AP” investigation revealing how much DHS was spending, what the ads said, where they aired, and how local communities and police groups were responding. They interviewed police departments, unions and city officials in the affected areas.
The result was a story that shined a light on the ads, the impact they were having on local communities and how well-funded DHS has become.
Related articles
