By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent
A photojournalist who has faced increased government surveillance since covering the migrant caravan in Mexico says “it’s intimidation, pure and simple.”
Bing Guan spoke to AsAmNews after NBC San Diego confirmed he was among 59 people on a government list of journalists, activists and attorneys federal authorities are tracking.
All have been tied to the caravan which clashed with border authorities trying to make their way into the United States.
“It’s a clear attempt from the federal government to dissuade reporters from covering what’s happening at the border. We ‘re fronting our own cost, travel. It’s intimidation clear and simple,” Guan, a freelancer, said.
He was working with fellow photojournalist Go Nakamura when the two were stopped at the border on their way back to the United States.
RELATED: Two Asian American Journalists Among those Under Government Surveillance
They were interrogated separately for more than an hour.
“Two plain clothes agents came to meet us,” he said to AsAmNews. They separated us. Go was interviewed in the lobby. I was lead to an interrogation area beyond the holding cells. He was in plain clothes. He didn’t identify what agency he was with. He started asking for a lot of personal information, contact info, my address . He told me very directly that they were trying to gather information on migrant caravan and people who had been around the migrant caravan. The specific term he used was ‘instigators. Can you help us identify.’ He showed me a four or five page document, very similar if not identical to the leaked document that was published by NBC San Diego. 12-20 images per page. Head shots, surveillance images, social media, drivers licenses.
“At the time I didn’t realize the significance of pumping journalists for information. I had nothing useful for them. I can play ball with them, because I had nothing useful for them and it was not going to compromise my sources.”
Guan says security tightened following the tear gassing of protestors participating in the caravan in late November.
“This sort of intelligence gathering and harassment toward journalist, activist and lawyers is very concerning from a civil rights perspective. It’s something you expect from authoritarian counties like in maybe Central Asia or Latin America. Freedom of speech is long associated with American freedom. To try to suppress that, it’s contrary to the first amendment and American values.”
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
