Trump Officials Blast CBS Over Migrant’s Asylum Claim Omitted From Profile

WHO:

NY Post - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized CBS’s “60 Minutes” for omitting a claim from Moussa Diawara’s asylum application.

Fox News - Moussa Diawara is a Malian national whose family includes his wife, a 16-year-old son, and a 12-year-old daughter.

Fox News - DHS General Counsel James Percival was interviewed for the “60 Minutes” segment and later criticized its presentation.

Fox News - The segment was led by “60 Minutes” contributor Gianna Toboni. A network spokesperson declined to comment; a “60 Minutes” insider defended the report.

WHAT:

NY Post - DHS said “60 Minutes” left out what it called an “absurd bit of fraud”: Diawara’s claim in his asylum application that he is gay.

Fox News - The segment portrayed Diawara as a loving husband and father and featured a phone conversation between him, at an undisclosed African location, and his family in the United States.

Fox News - Fox News said it obtained Diawara’s asylum application. In it, he wrote that he feared persecution and death in Mali because of his sexual orientation, and said he had been “banished” from Malian activities and received threats.

Fox News - Diawara wrote that his community had reported his sexual orientation to his family and that he feared he could be executed by an Islamic group or the community if returned to Mali.

Fox News - ICE alleged on X that Diawara claimed to be homosexual to avoid deportation. The agency described him as an example of immigration fraud; Percival said the application’s stated fear was that Diawara was gay.

Fox News - “60 Minutes” discussed a judge’s finding that Diawara could face persecution in Mali, citing fears about converting to Christianity, but did not mention the sexual-orientation claim. A CBS insider said the broadcast included religious fears and acknowledged DHS’s challenge to Diawara’s credibility.

Fox News - Percival said he spoke with “60 Minutes” for nearly an hour and accused the program of selective editing. He said it promised to publish the full interview.

Fox News - DHS said Ghana had given the United States “diplomatic assurances for his safety.”

WHERE:

Fox News - Diawara arrived in the United States, was detained by ICE, sent to Ghana, and then sent to Mali. Fox News reported that he later fled Mali to an undisclosed African country.

Fox News - Diawara’s wife and children were in the United States when the segment aired.

WHEN:

Fox News - Diawara’s asylum application was dated 2009. He arrived in the United States in 2001 and had lived there for 25 years, according to the report.

Fox News - Percival said the full interview was expected to be published “this week”; the article did not provide a calendar date.

WHY:

Fox News - Diawara’s application said he sought asylum because he feared persecution and possible execution in Mali due to his sexual orientation. The application also cited threats and exclusion from Malian activities.

Fox News - ICE said Diawara’s claimed homosexuality was used to try to avoid deportation to Mali.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 08:07 UTC)

DHS accused “60 Minutes” of omitting Moussa Diawara’s claim in his asylum application that he is gay, which the department called evidence of fraud; ICE also alleged he made the claim to avoid deportation. The application said Diawara feared persecution, threats, and possible execution in Mali because of his sexual orientation, while the broadcast focused on religious fears and portrayed him as a husband and father speaking with his family in the United States. DHS General Counsel James Percival, who was interviewed for the segment, accused the program of selective editing and said it had promised to publish his full interview; CBS declined to comment, while a “60 Minutes” insider defended the report.