The New York Times has rejected a full-page advertisement proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would have highlighted ICE arrests from Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, according to DHS. No specific reason was provided for the denial, and the newspaper has not yet supplied formal justification despite requests.
The proposed ad featured 30 mugshots of individuals arrested during the operation, focusing on those with prior convictions for crimes including domestic violence, rape, and homicide. It stated in all capital letters: “These are some of the 10,000 criminals ICE law enforcement has risked their lives to arrest in Minnesota.”
It accused sanctuary cities like Minneapolis of protecting criminals rather than cooperating with ICE, and ended with the tagline: “ICE saves innocent lives.”DHS, via emails reviewed by The Daily Wire dated January 26, reported that the Times informed a media placement service it was “not able to accept the ad in its current form.”
Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin criticized the decision sharply, telling The Daily Wire: “The media’s blackout is undeniable: they refuse to report on the vital work ICE is doing to remove dangerous public safety threats—murderers, rapists, gang members, and child predators—from Minneapolis streets and communities nationwide.” She added that the Times' refusal to run “a straightforward ad showing the violent criminals” that ICE officers risk their lives to deport represents “deliberate suppression of public safety information” that “should outrage every American” and “betrays the public trust and endangers lives.”
The Times has previously accepted controversial full-page ads, including one from an 80-year-old man urging Donald Trump to resign and another from Walmart heiress Christy Walton supporting anti-Trump “No Kings” protests, as well as a satirical ad from The Onion criticizing Congress and the Trump administration.