Category: Fake News

  • Allentown Grandfather Secretly Deported by ICE is a Hoax, Officials Say

    Allentown Grandfather Secretly Deported by ICE is a Hoax, Officials Say

    A widely shared story claiming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) secretly deported an 82-year-old green card holder from Pennsylvania to Guatemala has unraveled under scrutiny from federal agencies, international authorities, and fact-checkers. Initially reported by several major news outlets, the story has since been discredited as false, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calling it “journalistic malpractice.”

    Fake News Story That Spread Quickly

    The story first gained traction in mid-July 2025 after The Morning Call, a local newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania, reported that Luis Leon, a legal permanent resident from Chile, had disappeared after visiting a USCIS office in Philadelphia to replace a lost green card. According to early reports, Leon was allegedly detained by ICE, deported to Guatemala, and later presumed dead—only to be found alive in a hospital in Guatemala City.

    Guardian article claiming ICE secretly deported Pennsylvania grandfather

    The narrative was picked up by national and international outlets, including:

    The story quickly went viral across social media platforms, where it was cited as evidence of immigration enforcement overreach and a breakdown in due process for legal residents.

    No Records or Evidence of Deportation

    However, as the story circulated, it faced increasing skepticism—particularly from government officials who said the claims simply didn’t hold up under investigation.

    On July 21, DHS released a statement directly refuting the central claims of the story. According to the agency:

    • There is no record of any ICE arrest of a man named Luis Leon in Philadelphia or anywhere else in the United States.
    • There is no USCIS appointment logged for Leon on the reported date of June 20, 2025.
    • DHS confirmed it does not deport South American nationals to Guatemala, as Guatemala only receives Guatemalan nationals under U.S. repatriation agreements.

    “ICE never arrested or deported Luis Leon,” the department said. “The story is demonstrably false and appears to have been based on unverified information.”
    Source: DHS press release

    Guatemalan authorities also denied involvement. The Guatemalan Institute of Migration stated they had no record of Leon entering the country through official deportation channels or hospital admittance logs. AP coverage confirmed that Guatemala would not accept deportees from Chile under current agreements.

    Adding to the doubts, investigative reporters in Chile found a death record for a man named Luis Leon with the same birth date; registered in Santiago in 2019. If that record is accurate, the subject of the viral story may have been deceased for six years.

    Discrepancies and Red Flags

    A number of inconsistencies quickly cast doubt on the original reporting:

    ClaimContradiction
    Leon was arrested by ICE at a USCIS office in PhiladelphiaNo ICE or USCIS record of an appointment or detention
    He was deported to GuatemalaNo deportation record exists; Guatemala denies involvement
    His family was told he died in custodyNo official notification or documentation provided
    He was found alive in a Guatemalan hospitalNo hospital record exists; identity not verified
    He was a Chilean nationalChilean death records indicate he may have died in 2019

    Further complicating matters, no photos or credible identity documents of Leon in Guatemala have been publicly released. No one claiming to be a family member has come forward on the record.

    A Cautionary Tale for Modern Media

    While early reporting by The Morning Call and others appeared to rely on anonymous sources or unverified family statements, the lack of corroborating documentation or official comment should have raised red flags before national syndication.

  • Did MSNBC Compare a Donald Trump Madison Square Garden Rally to a Nazi Rally?

    Did MSNBC Compare a Donald Trump Madison Square Garden Rally to a Nazi Rally?

    MSNBC aired an opinion segment comparing a rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden rally during the 2024 election campaign to a Nazi rally held at the same venue in 1939. This sparked significant debate, with critics questioning whether the comparison was warranted or consistent. Did MSNBC explicitly draw such a comparison? Here’s an analysis based on the transcript and additional context about Madison Square Garden’s historical use for political events.

    Historical Context Provided by MSNBC

    The segment opened by recounting the infamous 1939 rally at Madison Square Garden, where over 20,000 American Nazi supporters gathered under banners displaying swastikas. During that event, speakers promoted anti-Semitic rhetoric, and a Jewish protester was violently attacked by “stormtroopers.” MSNBC juxtaposed this historical moment with Trump’s rally, emphasizing the venue’s symbolic weight.

    Frame of historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat's appearance on MSNBC

    History professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat argued that Trump’s choice of Madison Square Garden was “not a casual choice,” suggesting it invoked historical parallels. She pointed to Trump’s rhetoric, including phrases like “polluting our blood” and “vermin,” which she claimed mirrored language used by Adolf Hitler.

    Comparisons Between Trump and Fascist Leaders

    MSNBC’s panelists examined Trump’s rhetoric, comparing it to that of authoritarian leaders. Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, highlighted Trump’s use of dehumanizing terms like “animals” and “cold-blooded killers” to describe his opponents, as well as his frequent appeals to authoritarian ideas. Both Ben-Ghiat and Applebaum argued that Trump’s rallies aim to radicalize voters, mobilizing latent anger and extremism.

    The segment also linked Trump’s alleged calls for mass deportations and military obedience to historical fascist tactics, drawing parallels between his rhetoric and authoritarian regimes. While MSNBC did not explicitly equate Trump’s rally with the 1939 Nazi rally, the implication was clear with visual representations of the 1930’s rally then transitioned to Trump’s 2024 rally.

    Madison Square Garden’s Political History

    Despite MSNBC’s focus on the 1939 Nazi rally, Madison Square Garden has a long history of hosting political events, including several Democratic gatherings that were not subject to similar scrutiny or comparisons.

    • Democratic National Convention (1924): The convention, held at Madison Square Garden, was deeply divided over issues like immigration and Prohibition, requiring a record 103 ballots to nominate John W. Davis.
    • Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Campaign Speech (1936): During his re-election campaign, President Roosevelt delivered a significant speech at Madison Square Garden.
    • Democratic National Convention (1980): President Jimmy Carter and Senator Ted Kennedy addressed the convention held at Madison Square Garden during Carter’s re-election campaign.
    • Bill Clinton’s Acceptance Speech (1992): Clinton delivered his acceptance speech as the Democratic presidential nominee at Madison Square Garden during the convention.

    These events underscore that Madison Square Garden has served as a venue for significant political events across the ideological spectrum. Unlike Trump’s rally, none of these Democratic gatherings drew comparisons to the 1939 Nazi rally, despite their large-scale use of the venue and contentious issues of their time.

    Does the Segment Make a Direct Comparison?

    Historical footage of pro-Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden circa 1939 aired on MSNBC

    While MSNBC did not explicitly state that Trump’s rally was identical to the 1939 Nazi rally, it strongly implied a connection. The focus on historical parallels, rhetoric, and symbolism invited viewers to draw their own conclusions. However, the segment’s omission of Madison Square Garden’s broader political history raises questions about whether the comparison was fair or selective.

    MSNBC’s segment implicitly compared Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally to the 1939 Nazi rally through historical and rhetorical parallels. However, the venue has hosted many political events, including rallies and conventions led by prominent Democratic figures, which were not similarly scrutinized.

    This raises broader questions about the consistency and fairness of such comparisons. Whether MSNBC’s framing was appropriate or hyperbolic remains a subject of public debate.