CBS News’ ’60 Minutes’ is facing backlash after it was revealed that the segment on deported migrant Moussa Diawara excluded critical information about his asylum application that previously claimed gay identity. This omission raises serious concerns about the integrity of the report.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security informed the New York Post that the network was made aware of Diawara’s immigration history well in advance of the segment’s airing.
Diawara, a married father of two, initially asserted that he feared persecution in Mali due to his sexuality, a detail that was not included in the CBS coverage. Instead, the program emphasized his purported conversion to Christianity and fears of religious persecution in the majority-Muslim nation.
This selective presentation has prompted scrutiny from DHS officials, casting doubt on Diawara’s immigration claims.
The ’60 Minutes’ piece depicted Diawara as a Texas father who was separated from his family following his deportation to Ghana in July. He entered the U.S. on a tourist visa back in 2001 but overstayed, leading to an immigration judge’s ruling in 2012 allowing for his potential deportation, albeit not to Mali.
Following the telecast, DHS General Counsel James Percival publicly challenged the network’s narrative via X, asserting that Diawara’s original claim of fearing persecution was based on his assertion of being homosexual, illustrating deeper concerns regarding immigration fraud.
His asylum application detailed his feelings and experiences regarding his sexuality, stating, “Although I was born as a boy, but things appeared differently for me as I was already having female behaviors and feelings.”
WATCH WHAT @60Minutes DIDN’T SHOW YOU.
Here’s the FULL, uncut interview with @DHSGenCounsel James Percival. https://t.co/RSxxHBDTnF
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 27, 2026
Moreover, he indicated that living in the U.S. allowed him to express his feelings without embarrassment.
DHS officials have cited this discrepancy in the application to raise questions about possible immigration fraud, although establishing proof of deceit remains unresolved.
CBS did acknowledge during the broadcast that DHS questioned Diawara’s credibility regarding his claims, yet failed to mention his earlier assertions about being gay.
An insider from ’60 Minutes’ defended the segment to Fox News, noting that it adequately addressed his religious concerns and the doubts from the department.
Diawara has also claimed that authorities in Ghana forcibly relocated him to Mali shortly after his arrival, conflicting with prior U.S. immigration judgments.
Currently, he has fled Mali and is allegedly residing in an undisclosed location in Africa, as reported by ’60 Minutes.’
