CNN Makes Viewers Balk With This Twitter Immigration Poll

CNN Faces Backlash Over Tweet
|

CNN faced backlash from some viewers on Sunday night when it sent out a tweet asking whether journalist Jose Antonio Vargas should be deported, or allowed to remain in the United States.

Vargas, a former Washington Post reporter and Huffington Post editor, revealed in 2011 that he is undocumented in a New York Times Magazine article. CNN aired "Documented," a documentary about his decision to reveal his status and his experience speaking to other undocumented immigrants, on Sunday.

On Sunday night, the network tweeted,

The question drew responses to the poll, as well as criticism from viewers.

BuzzFeed noted that CNN and Vargas later defended the question posed in the tweet, which they said is critical to the film and the debate about immigration. Others, however, did not feel the same way about CNN's approach:

Immigration isn't a TV contest MT @CNN: Think Jose should be deported?Answer w JOSESTAY or JOSEGO using #Documented pic.twitter.com/DU4Y3NGIOa

— natalie baur (@nataliembaur) June 30, 2014

Do you think @CNN should be ashamed of itself? Answer with #CNNSHAME or...well...that's actually the only reasonable response.

— Erin (@sqwerin) June 30, 2014

Deport whoever wrote this tweet: "@CNN: Do you think Jose should be deported? Answer with JOSESTAY or JOSEGO pic.twitter.com/UO6Z3nAJFd

— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) June 30, 2014

@CNN this is outrageous. This isn't some soulless reality show. It's someone's life. And a real issue

— natalie baur (@nataliembaur) June 30, 2014

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost