As President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his second term, some media insiders are raising red flags about how prepared their institutions are to cover what they fear will be a “disaster” for countless communities. The focus is on Trump’s plans for mass deportations, which experts believe could tear families apart.
A veteran NBC News journalist voiced concerns, saying their network’s typical approach to immigration issues simply won’t cut it. Their main worry? That traditional coverage often misses the emotional and human side of the story. As this source explained: “When we keep showing just the border, we’re missing the bigger picture. It’s not just about the border— it’s about the impact on schools, churches, hospitals.”
Enrique Acevedo from Univision also echoed this sentiment, criticizing how the media has handled immigration coverage. He stated bluntly, “We’ve done a poor job. Focusing on the border to explain the immigration crisis is like covering just the ER to explain the COVID pandemic. It’s just not enough.”
The fear here is that the media is not ready for the humanitarian crisis that mass deportations could cause, something that many believe will shock the American public.
Kica Matos, head of the National Immigration Law Center, predicts that once Trump’s deportation plans take effect, public opinion will shift quickly, but she also worries that the media won’t be ready to report on the real, personal consequences. “I don’t think Americans understand what’s coming. Some of them will be shocked when people they know—friends, neighbors, even their child’s best friend—get deported,” she explained. “These are the stories that need to be told.”
In short, as the media faces the daunting task of covering Trump’s second term, it seems clear that the biggest challenge will be telling the personal stories behind the headlines. Will they be ready? That remains to be seen.
