A worker at a secretive migrant center run by the International Rescue Committee attempted to bribe James O'Keefe as he was reporting on the organization allegedly bussing thousands of migrants "every hour on the hour" to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport.
The incident occurred at the Ann Ott Elementary School at 1211 East Apache in Phoenix, Arizona, which closed in 2007 and has since been converted into a migrant welcome center.
O’Keefe Media Group captured the attempted bribe on video, which was released on Wednesday afternoon.
"Video shows facility run by International Rescue Committee @RESCUEorg bussing thousands of migrant 'refugees' every hour on the hour to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport," O'Keefe wrote in a post on X accompanying the video. "Migrants tell us they crossed border illegally, as IRC given $415 million from Feds to give the pretense of Refugee status and fly them on flights out of Terminal 3 and 4." SECRET MIGRANT CENTER EXPOSED PART 1: “I’LL PAY YOU GUYS.” Phoenix Migrant ‘Refugee’ Facility worker caught on tape trying to bribe journalist.
Video shows facility run by International Rescue Committee @RESCUEorg bussing thousands of migrant “refugees” every hour on the hour… pic.twitter.com/BdIecQemhl
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 3, 2024
“How much did you guys get paid? I’ll pay you guys,” a facility staffer, identified by OMG as Jesus Moreno, says in the video.
"What's that?" O'Keefe asks.
"How much did you guys get paid?" Moreno repeats. "I'll pay you guys."
A woman in the background can be heard telling him to stop speaking to O'Keefe.
OMG found out that the IRC was running the shelter through a Red Cross worker who said that their organization cannot speak to the media about this specific job.
"Red Cross doesn't give interviews on this job," the man says.
"You don't give interviews?" O'Keefe asks.
"Not on this job," the man asserts.
O'Keefe asks the worker, "Who gives interviews?"
"IRC is running this shelter," he says. "
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 3, 2024
Another IRC staff member, Tomas Robles, called the police on O'Keefe during the reporting. He accused the journalist of harassing the employees.
The IRC's 2021 tax forms report a gross income of $1,395,836,237. According to the form, $415 million of that money came from the United States government.
In an email to O'Keefe, Diana Santana, the communications director for the IRC USA, said "our role in the Pheonix Welcome Center is to work with local partners and authorities to provide an orderly, safe, cordinated, and humane reception center for asylum seekers and their children. The Center provides basic services, including health screening, and helps those released by US authorities and lawfully in the US reunite with family members of sponsors."
O'Keefe posted, "Sources and insiders gave us the information that brought us what you see in this video. If you work for the airlines, the bus companies, the government, NGOs, or if you have confidential info that can shed light on what’s really going on, contact us at http://tips.okeefemediagroup.com and on Signal at 914-315-9415."
