Fox News' America's Newsroom falsely reported that “two federal agencies are joining the push to boycott Arizona” by cancelling “conventions” there. In fact, the Department of Education says it will be holding a conference in Arizona next week, and the Border Patrol said they did not cancel any conferences in Arizona.
Fox's “straight news” falsely reports federal agencies are boycotting Arizona
Written by Jocelyn Fong
Published
Fox reports that federal gov't has “aim[ed] an economic boycott” against Arizona
From the June 25 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom:
MACCALLUM: Have you heard this story? Two federal agencies are joining the push to boycott Arizona. This is a very unusual development. Protests against the Grand Canyon state's controversial immigration law continue across the country, both the Department of Education and the US Border Patrol were supposed to hold conventions at two resorts in Arizona. And now they are backpedaling on that. The news comes as several other cities and groups are encouraging boycotting the state of Arizona, but unusual that the federal government would aim an economic boycott against one of its own 50 states.
Fox ignores agencies' statements disputing the claim
Education Department is reportedly holding a conference in Arizona next week. The Associated Press reported on June 24:
The Education Department says it moved a joint event held with Mexican and Canadian partners in a student exchange program because the Mexicans asked that it be moved. Each agency pays for its part of the joint North American Mobility Program.
The agency says it is holding other conferences in Arizona, including one next week.
Border Patrol says it “has not canceled any conferences in Arizona.” The Arizona Daily Star reported on June 24:
Border Patrol officials say they did not cancel any Arizona events, according to a statement issued by the agency's public affairs office in Washington, D.C.
“CBP has not canceled any conferences in Arizona. We conducted a thorough review across our organization to ensure this is, in fact, the case. The agency has reached out to Rep. Giffords' office to clear up any misunderstanding,” the statement says.