New report says CBP is “Using Subliminal Songs To Scare Immigrants”

ABC-7 reported the U.S. government is spending $ 5 million on PSA’s in Central America. But could they be also using music to spread their message?

National news outlet, The Daily Beast reports Customs and Border Patrol commissioned a song to be played on the radio in Central America, warning about the danger. This new report said CBP hired a composer to create songs targeting Mexicans in 2004 called “No Mas Cruces.”

The report said it was meant to warn potential border crossers about the dangers of the Sonoran desert and The Daily Beast is reporting CBP is doing it again, this time in Central America.

This month, CBP announced its “Dangers Awareness Campaign,” an aggressive Spanish-language outreach effort and an urgent call to action, said CBP in a press release.

“They arrive hungry, and thirsty, they’re exhausted and they’re scared,” said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske.

More than six-thousand public service announcements will run on radio, television and billboards and, according The Daily Beast, a song called “La Bestia” or “The Beast”, refers to the dangerous train ride immigrants take into Mexico.

The report said “La Bestia” plays on 21 radio stations in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but listeners have no idea they’re listening to a CBP message.

“Most of my family, they come from Mexico. And I don’t think they should be doing that stuff. To me it’s like prejudice,” said one El Paso resident.

The Elevation advertising agency, based in Washington D.C, works with the CBP, according to the report. Its website has videos with CPB labels.

The Daily Beast writes: “The songs are played as part of the radio stations’ regular rotation, with no disclaimer about who’s sponsoring them…CBP knows that attaching it’s name to the campaign would immediately decrease its effectiveness.”

“Something about it is good, but something about it is bad because they don’t help the poor people,” said another El Paso resident.

But resident Agripina Aguirre, born in Guerrero, said these messages are necessary.

“{Translated} I think its a message for all the Mexican immigrants about the dangers and consequences of crossing. The message is really good to do things the right way, get your visa and do everything correctly. Yes, I’m in favor of the video and I’m not against the immigrants. I’m not going to say that the government is trying to harm us, but to the contrary.”

ABC-7 reached out to local Spanish radio stations to see if they’ve played “La Bestia,” but they said they hadn’t heard of it.

A CBP’s spokesperson confirmed to The Daily Beast the agency wants to stay in the background, saying:

“It’s more important to us that the message be delivered. We want to make sure the audience is listening.”