Thread by @frontlinepbs

El Paso has been called the Ellis Island of the Southwest. In recent years, the border city has become a testing ground for some of President Trump’s most controversial immigration policies — and the target of a white supremacist attack. #frontlinePBS NEW: to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc

Here are five key insights into how El Paso has become a central battleground in America’s bitter divide over immigration policy, from @marcellular and @Martin28Smith‘s new #frontlinePBS documentary, “Targeting El Paso." ➡️

@marcellular @Martin28Smith 1⃣El Paso has been cited by President Trump as an argument in favor of his border wall.

In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump claimed that building a border wall in El Paso had made it one of America's safest cities. The city’s mayor told FRONTLINE that wasn’t true.

@marcellular @Martin28Smith 2️⃣It was a testing ground for "zero tolerance.”

In 2017, El Paso Border Patrol began to criminally prosecute families that crossed the border — and children and parents were sent to separate holding facilities.to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc

@marcellular @Martin28Smith Former @DHSgov adviser @scottshuchart says his team was blindsided by El Paso’s initial family separations. "We got told that there was no such pilot. We got the run around."

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart An officer with El Paso’s Border Patrol Union tells #frontlinePBS that he objected to separating children from their families: “I mean none of us were happy about it. But everybody around me was just doing exactly what we were all told…" to.pbs.org/2upOHKl

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart Six months after the El Paso child separation program ended, the Trump administration decided to scale up the program nationally. to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart 3⃣Overcrowding at migrant detention centers in the El Paso region became a flashpoint in the migrant crisis.

In the first five months of 2019, Border Patrol in the area apprehended over 111,000 migrants — an 800% increase over the previous year. to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart Advocates say the conditions of detention facilities were meant to be a deterrent, made worse by Trump’s push to end a long-standing policy of releasing migrants pending their court dates.

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart Migrant children of families crossing the border near El Paso were sent en masse to the now-notorious facility in Clint, where court-appointed monitors found over 350 children being held — about triple the site's capacity. The conditions sparked Congressional hearings.

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart Nine-year-old Dariana is the first child who was held inside Clint known to have spoken to the media about conditions there. She tells #frontlinePBS there were no adults caring for her — "there were only cameras." WATCH: to.pbs.org/2T0TOuJ

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart 4⃣"Remain in Mexico” was piloted in El Paso.

In the program, the U.S. sends asylum seekers to be held in Mexico. It aimed to alleviate severe overcrowding inside Border Patrol’s processing centers — but advocates and Trump administration officials see it differently.

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart 5⃣The El Paso region has seen a growth in armed militia groups patrolling the border.

Journalist @AngelaKBorder described to #frontlinePBS the relationship between President Trump’s harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and these vigilante groups:

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart @AngelaKBorder A widely viewed Facebook video depicted one such group ordering migrant women and children to get on the ground at gunpoint while comparing them to roaches. A spokesperson for the vigilante group invited @Martin28Smith to follow their patrol. WATCH: to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart @AngelaKBorder Border Patrol says they do not endorse or condone private groups taking matters into their own hands. But they welcome assistance from the community.

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart @AngelaKBorder The White House arranged for #frontlinePBS to speak with @HomelandKen as a spokesperson for the Trump administration on immigration.

@Martin28Smith asked him: “What do you think our obligation is to housing and sheltering those knocking on our door?” His response:

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart @AngelaKBorder @HomelandKen .@Martin28Smith also asked Texas' @RepEscobar about Americans “who feel this is a president who's actually doing something” about people crossing the border in greater numbers. Her response:

@marcellular @Martin28Smith @DHSgov @scottshuchart @AngelaKBorder @HomelandKen @RepEscobar Watch “Targeting El Paso” streaming on the @PBS Video app or online at any time. to.pbs.org/2QVbUMc