All-formats AP team gains extensive, exclusive access to militarized border zones

By Morgan Lee, Jae Hong and Eugene Garcia

The Associated Press was the first news organization to gain extensive, exclusive access to new militarized zones blanketing about one-third of the U.S. border with Mexico, providing an unmatched look at how the military has been thrust into a central role in border enforcement.

Reporter Morgan Lee and now-retired Pentagon reporter Lolita Baldor worked for months to secure the news media’s first inside look at the military’s expanded role under President Donald Trump, requesting a tour of the newly created zones. Their persistence paid off: the team of Lee, photographer Jae Hong and videojournalist Eugene Garcia was granted wide-ranging access over two days and three states, including interviews with the general overseeing border operations, ground-level troops and Border Patrol agents.

The trio expertly captured the environment with attention to detail. One Army sergeant confided that she was bored, given illegal crossings were at 60-year lows. The two-star general in charge defended the mission but conceded the slow pace was “an elephant in the room.”

The story, edited for text by Mary Sedor and for visuals by Top Stories photo editor Rachel Leathe, resonated across AP platforms. Judges praised the unique perspective and access, which allowed audiences to discover something new on a topic often covered from a distance.

For their persistence and achievement in reporting, executing and delivering an exclusive and distinctive story, Lee, Hong and Garcia win Best of the Week – Second Winner.