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