Return to Transcripts main page

Erin Burnett Outfront

Trump: Epstein Files "Used To Deflect" From Our "Success"; WSJ: Putin Studied Profiles Of Trump Officials, Preferred Witkoff; Latinos Speak To CNN About Why They're Joining Border Patrol. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired December 22, 2025 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[19:00:23]

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:

CNN learning the Justice Department did not protect the identity of some Epstein survivors. One who spoke to CNN, her name unredacted, appears in the files numerous times. That goes directly against the DOJ's reason for taking so long to release the documents. Where are the rest of the files and why is it really taking so long?

And an exclusive CNN investigation tonight. Sources revealing Russia is using a fleet of cargo ships to spy on military sites. An incredible report tonight.

And a 78-year-old vet goes to the same restaurant every single day and orders the gumbo, except for one day. He didn't show up. Chef jumped into action. And what happened next saved that vets life. Both men are our guests tonight.

Let's go OUTFRONT.

And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.

And OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news: failing to protect Epstein's survivors. Our MJ Lee with exclusive reporting tonight that the Justice Department did not redact the name of one of Epstein's survivors in the thousands of heavily redacted pages it released. The woman who has chosen to identify herself as Jane Doe, says her name appears multiple times in the files, even after reporting it to the DOJ this weekend.

At last check, her name is still out in the open for the world to see, and we're going to have a lot more on her story in a moment. And we want to be very clear here. This is a huge oversight in the DOJ part, and it's unacceptable. It's dangerous because despite what we've heard again and again from the DOJ as to why they failed to meet the deadline to release the full Epstein files, I mean, here's the reason they've given.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD BLANCHE, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: The statute also requires us to protect victims. Our process is simply that, to protect victims, making sure that victims names and any of information from victims is protected and redacted. If they have an issue with me protecting victims, they know how to get a hold of me. They know what we're doing to protect victims.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Okay, obviously that doesn't add up. And the victim that we're talking about who reached out to the DOJ and said, redact my name now and then, it still isn't done. That's what's unacceptable.

And by the way, those names her name in there, and yet men who are accused of rape that is redacted, that doesn't add up. And survivors are demanding answers.

And in a new statement, they write, "The public received a fraction of the files. And what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions, with no explanation. Numerous victims' identities were left unredacted. No financial documents were released. Grand jury minutes, though approved by a federal judge for release, were fully blacked out. These are clear cut violations of an unambiguous law."

And it's not just survivors pounding the table tonight, calling it out and saying that this needs to stop. There needs to be more transparency. Well, there's actually people who are mentioned in the files who are standing up.

Former President Bill Clinton is speaking out. His spokesman calling on the DOJ to release all the files after, of course, the first release was full of a whole bunch of pictures of Clinton, like the one of Clinton swimming in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and another woman whose face is redacted.

Now, Clinton has never been accused by law enforcement of wrongdoing related to Epstein, and in a statement, his office writes what the Department of Justice has released so far and the manner in which it did so makes one thing clear -- someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why, but we do know this. We need no such protection.

Now, moments ago, Trump was asked about the files that had been released and he's not happy. But for an entirely different reason.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: MJ Lee is OUTFRONT live in Washington.

And, MJ, you spoke with an Epstein survivor who was identified in the files, right? Name could have been redacted. It wasn't. She reported it to the DOJ to get that fixed. They still haven't redacted her name as our last check here a few minutes ago.

What more are you learning?

MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Erin, you know, when we are talking about a Jane Doe, this is somebody who is choosing to be anonymous, choosing to not have their identity out in public. And I spoke with an Epstein Jane Doe who was mortified to learn when these Epstein files came out, that her name was all over the place in the Epstein files.

Over the weekend, she reached out to DOJ multiple times, asking them to fix this. One time, she got a response, essentially saying, okay, we're going to pass along your message to somebody that deals with documents and redactions.

But I checked right before coming on air, and her name is still all over the Epstein files. I do want to give a little bit of context about who this Jane Doe is.

[19:05:00]

And just to be very clear, Erin, this is somebody who said that we would be okay reporting on these descriptions about her, obviously keeping it general enough so that it wouldn't actually give her away. Hopefully she is somebody who says she experienced and witnessed Epstein's abuse going back to 2009, and she reported him to the FBI in 2009.

2009, Erin, is a really significant time period in that Jeffrey Epstein story arc, because this would have been after he pled guilty to state charges in Florida and was supposed to be serving jail time. But remember, those 13 months or so that he was supposed to be in jail, a lot of those hours, he was actually allowed to be out on work release programs. And that's a period of time when a number of survivors have said he continued his abusive behavior.

Now, a little bit of what this jane doe told me in this interview. She said, the reason I feel so passionate is it's not just about me and what happened. I fear for the little girl who's calling the FBI right now and asking for help. I am so afraid for her. It hurts my heart. It haunts me to my core.

Erin, I can't emphasize enough tonight just how little trust there is in the survivors and the victims that I've spoken with when it comes to the DOJ. You know, these are a group of women who have really wanted for so long, for so many years, for some of them to get transparency, to even learn information about their own cases.

And I think after seeing how these redactions were handled and the fact that the release was completely incomplete, I think they are feeling completely disappointed, frustrated, and some of them just despondent about getting to the bottom of this story

BURNETT: MJ Lee, thank you so much for all that reporting.

OUTFRONT now, the key Democrat who co-sponsored the law to release the Epstein files, Congressman Ro Khanna.

And, Congressman, I appreciate your time tonight.

I mean, MJ just reporting that there's an Epstein victim who up to this time had only ever been identified as Jane Doe. And she tells CNN tonight she's mortified because her name, her real name appears in the Epstein files multiple times, unredacted. And she says -- she's attempted to get the DOJ to redact her name from the publicly available documents. And she's been unsuccessful.

What is your reaction to that?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): It's shameful. I've been talking to survivors and survivors' lawyers who actually for the last 48 hours have been dealing with this. They have succeeded in getting some redactions where there were a group of survivors' names that were present. But obviously, there are still survivors who have had their information released in violation of the law that Massie and I wrote.

And here is what is infuriating: while they're releasing survivors, they're protecting the men who raped them or who covered up the abuse. I mean, there was one survivor who said her name was released, but they didn't release the FBI file that she's been demanding for the past years. And the biggest thing that they have not released, that Massie and I are asking that they release is the FBI witness interviews with these survivors.

I have had survivors tell me, and survivors lawyers tell me that in those interview memorandum, there are the names of other rich and powerful men who were on Epstein's island or who engaged in abuse.

BURNETT: I mean, it is -- it is -- it is really incredible just to take the very base of this, that those names aren't there. And some survivors are who don't, who don't want their names out there.

I want to play for you part of how the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, explained why the DOJ has not put out the complete files, not even now, but by the deadline. Of course, they have the deadline last week, they didn't do it.

Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLANCHE: The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that, to protect victims. So, the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don't want us to protect victims. So we're going through a very methodical process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: All right. Just stating the obvious. We're just talking about, right? There are victims who haven't been protected. So, on its face, that answer does not add up.

But the question is still there. Then why do you believe, Congressman, that they have not released everything?

KHANNA: They're protecting these people. Look, here's the truth. When you have an FBI interview with survivors, there's information in there that doesn't necessarily mean that the person who has been named is guilty. Obviously, the Department of Justice hasn't charged some of these individuals.

Now, in some cases, I believe that was a failure of the justice department to prosecute. But what the DOJ has concluded is they don't want to hurt these rich and powerful men's reputation. And so they're actually protecting them because they don't want these witness interview memorandum to be out. And they're saying that some of that information cant be corroborated.

But the law was very clear. We said you cannot consider reputational damage. You cannot consider personal embarrassment. You have to get this out. They have not released a single FBI witness interview with the survivors. And that is what is just appalling.

BURNETT: Do you have any indication as to when the DOJ will put more out?

KHANNA: Well, they've already backtracked. I mean, I think what they thought is, okay, they're going to release this, do this document dump. And then everyone is going to go away for the Christmas holidays. And they would have done their thing and we'd all forget about it.

They didn't realize that this has become personal for Congressman Massie and me. We've met with many of the survivors. We've seen 1,200 survivors be abused and denied justice. So, we weren't just going to keep quiet when we said we were going to bring contempt against Pam Bondi and find her for every document not released. Suddenly, an hour later, they say, okay, now, we're going to start releasing unredacted documents. Now we're going to be more forthcoming.

I hope that's the case. I don't want to file to have the contempt take place. I rather they just comply. And so, my view is they are going to give more documents. And here's the main point, though. The survivors are willing to come back to the capitol, and we'll have them back to relive their trauma if this does not get resolved in the next couple of weeks.

BURNETT: All right. Congressman Khanna, thank you so much.

KHANNA: Thank you.

BURNETT: And OUTFRONT now, Sky and Amanda Roberts, Virginia Giuffre's brother and sister in law.

Sky, you just heard Congressman Khanna there. They're going to -- they're going to do whatever it takes and that this is now personal for him and Thomas Massie, as you all know, because you've met with him and with both of them so many times.

I mean, Sky, the DOJ has admitted it didn't release all the Epstein files by the deadline. Right? We know that to be a fact. They admit it.

I mean, is what you're seeing so far even close to sufficient? And is there any -- any reason that you can see or any logic that you can see to what has been released?

SKY ROBERTS, BROTHER OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE: I mean, I think that's -- that's a really great question because I think there's -- there has been things that have been released that has been very vindicating. And like, for example, Maria Farmer and the documentation that really helps vindicate her and show her as a truth teller, just like my sister was a truth teller, just --

BURNETT: Like how she went to the FBI.

SKY ROBERTS: -- truth teller. Right, how she went to the FBI. And I think exactly, exactly what Representative Khanna is saying is that, you know, there's so many more of these transcripts that would prove the same exact things right time and time again. But yet, they continue to safeguard.

So, is it enough? Not even remotely close. Is it enough? We're going to continue to fight with -- fight as hard as we can to get every single document released, un -- you know, unredacted for the perpetrators and redacted for the survivors.

BURNETT: And, Amanda, of course, you know, that's the -- that's the shocking part here, right? That there were redactions of the perpetrators and not of the victims. And what we saw, I mean, just absolutely stunning.

President Trump has just spoken out about the Epstein files just a bit ago, and I wanted to play for you some of what he just said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they're in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin the reputation of somebody. So, a lot of people are very angry that this continues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: And yet of the men who are perpetrators, Amanda, we don't -- their names -- that is not out there right now. I mean, you know, what's your response to that sort of sentiment?

AMANDA ROBERTS, SISTER-IN-LAW OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE: I mean, first off, I think the incompetence of the DOJ is quite insulting. I think their behavior and the fact that they've redacted, you know, the perpetrators and left these survivors unredacted and then claim that the care is for the utmost survivors, it just doesn't add up. And then second -- secondly, to have the president of the United States care more, care more for people who have operated in this circle, who could potentially be pedophiles, okay, who could potentially be perpetrators? He doesn't know that. Right? We need -- that's why we need all the evidence.

And so, the care to protect the rich and wealthy and the powerful over the survivors who have been fighting for decades -- once again, it's just so disrespectful. It's so disrespectful to this case. And what happened.

And it almost feels like, you know, that that its intentional, this chaos that this administration is creating around it is intentional. But we're paying attention. We are paying attention, and were going to keep fighting.,

BURNETT: As both of you have so indefatigably.

I mean, Sky, MJ Lee was, you know, on this issue of incompetence that you and Amanda are talking about. She just reported that, you know, at least one Epstein survivor, and she has spoken to her today who has only ever chosen to identify herself as Jane Doe, finds out that her name has appeared multiple times in the Epstein files that were released, so far.

[19:15:11]

She's reached out to the DOJ and said, oh, oh, my gosh, you know, this is wrong. This is wrong. Can you fix it? And you heard how MJ Lee described what she got. Oh, well pass this along to someone in the redaction department essentially. And her name is still there as we speak.

But yet, you heard Todd Blanche say that they're doing everything they can to protect the survivors' identities. And that's why this is taking so long. I mean, Sky, how does this all add up to you? Do you think the Justice Department is interested in protecting the survivors?

SKY ROBERTS: What a contradiction. What a contradictory statement that they continue to do. And they wonder why we keep asking questions and have some trust issues with the Department of Justice and the FBI. This is just yet another case of that.

And it's very disrespectful because that puts that person -- that puts that survivors name out there to a point where they could be risked their safety. Think about it for a second. It's not just about like, oh, they did this. Like, how do you feel about it? It's really like, what does that actually do to that survivor?

The safety's compromise. They could be sued into homelessness like my sister had had people that would pull up in her driveway and with their lights on and basically threaten their family. I remember a time we came back in Titusville when she had lived here locally, and her whole house was broken into and completely ravaged.

Like, these are real things that survivors live with. And so, I hope that the Department of Justice understands that their actions have real consequences. And so, it's, you know, it's just yet another circumstance of like its contradictory statements like their actions speak louder than words right now. And I think their actions are pretty clear.

BURNETT: I mean, you said it better than anybody could say it, right? The actions are very clear and they don't match the words.

Amanda, you know, in this context and there's so much to be frustrated, outraged, angry, despondent was, you know, MJ said some survivors feel all those words I'm sure. Describe how you both feel. But I know that Sky mentioned a moment ago some vindication, right? And I know that you and sky do see some victories for survivors.

There's a lot more that needs to come, right? I don't mean to imply anything otherwise, but there are some victories, right?

AMANDA ROBERTS: Yeah. I think that's so important. With this marathon, you get so few wins, you get so few vindication. So when we have them, we need to celebrate them. We need to honor them.

And Maria Farmer, it was a beautiful moment for her. We were so proud to see that. I mean, they had been calling her a liar for years.

Can you imagine the trauma that had been inflicted upon her and her name and in her entire life? And that moment means everything to them.

It is the first step to justice, the acknowledgment, the proof to come to light. And I will say, even some of the photos that come forward, they're very triggering. They're very triggering. It's very hard for these survivors to digest that.

It's hard for us to see that knowing that, like some of these faces, we know harmed our sister. You know, the places we know she had been. It's so triggering and traumatizing.

But that's how hard they fought for this. They knew that they were going to have to endure this again for justice, and to see some of those faces there and expose is vindication once again. See, I told you that person was in his orbit. I told you I seen this person on at this place.

And so, all of those moments still are very powerful. And I also think that, you know, the FBI that had came out, the report for Maria Farmer also proves that were looking at institutional failure. And that is another thing that we want to see. We want to be able to dissect what happened and why there were no more prosecutions.

BURNETT: Yeah. I mean, and that's the big question, right? And as Ro Khanna said, maybe there's enough to prosecute people who weren't prosecuted and should have been. Maybe there isn't in some cases, we just don't know, because that's the part that's redacted. That would lead us to the people who were perpetrators, who were aware, who were -- who were pedophiles.

Thank you both so much. I appreciate speaking to you.

SKY ROBERTS: Thank you, Erin.

AMANDA ROBERTS: Thank you, Erin. BURNETT: All right.

And next, we have an exclusive CNN investigation and it reveals how Putin is using a shadow fleet of ships for espionage. This is according to intelligence sources. It's pretty incredible when you look at what they're spying on.

Plus, CNN granted rare access to a Border Patrol Academy where a surge of new recruits are trying or learning to carry out Trump's immigration crackdown. So, who is signing up?

An incredible story of friendship. Tonight, a Florida chef saved the life of one of his regular customers, who suddenly stopped showing up after going there every single day for 10 years. So, what happened? Both men are OUTFRONT tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:24:08]

BURNETT: Tonight, the mysterious death of a Russian general. The latest apparent assassination of a senior military leader after a car bomb exploded on the streets of Moscow. Just think about that.

Russia's investigators saying Ukraine's security services could be behind the attack. Ukraine not commenting, but it comes as "The Wall Street Journal" has an incredible report so in depth, and they say that Steve Witkoff, the real estate investor who up until now had had no diplomatic experience, but President Trump nonetheless tapped him to end the war in Ukraine, was actually handpicked by Vladimir Putin to be the U.S. official he deal with directly.

So, Putin picked him. Putin, apparently, according to "The Journal" studied psychological profiles of the officials closest to Trump and picked Witkoff. Putin, according to "The Journal", wanted to meet Witkoff so badly that he offered to release an American prisoner in return, Marc Fogle.

The White House denying the report, they call it absurd. But it comes amid an exclusive CNN investigation that reveals a brazen operation by Putin's government using a shadow fleet of cargo ships to spy on military sites, according to intelligence sources.

Katie Polglase is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCHER (voice-over): Looking out over the English Channel, this narrow stretch of water between the U.K. and France, at points just 20 miles wide, is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

POLGLASE: Now CNN can exclusively reveal that there have been ships, ordinary-looking cargo ships, that have sailed right past here with Russian personnel on board, who, according to Western intelligence sources, are conducting espionage on behalf of the Russian state. And that includes taking photos of European military installations, they say.

POLGLASE (voice-over): The men on board belong to the Moran Security Group, the sources said, a maritime private security company set up over a decade ago to defend against piracy.

Last year, the U.S. sanctioned them for providing armed security services to Russian state-owned businesses.

These ships Moran Security are on are not usually Russian nor are the crew but they're known as Russia's shadow fleet, as Western authorities believe they secretly serve the Kremlins interests, like carrying Russian oil despite Western sanctions.

We asked Ukrainian foreign intelligence, who have been tracking the group, why they think these men from Moran Security were on board.

OLEKSANDR STAKHNEVYCH, UKRAINE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE: For our information, this actually, Moran Security Group, is connected to Russian special service, GRU military intelligence. And it's coordinated by them.

POLGLASE (voice-over): He said the men are tasked with keeping an eye on non-Russian captains. But that is not the only role.

STAKHNEVYCH: They can be involved in like covert information gathering during the like, traveling during the routes of these vessels.

POLGLASE (voice-over): And a job application form on the Moran Security Group's website makes it clear what skills they're looking for, stating, "Preference is given to former officers who have served in special forces units, including the GRU." That's Russia's military intelligence agency.

We tracked with shipping data and satellite imagery one of the ships Western intelligence sources told us Moran Security were recently on board.

This ship, the Boracay, is a crude oil tanker. It appears at the port of Primorsk in Russia on September 19th. We obtained the crew list, showing the boat left Primorsk the next day. And after a long list of non-Russian sailors, at the bottom, are two Russians listed only as technicians.

But Western intelligence sources told us they are Russian contractors, acting in line with the Kremlin's interests and that one is a former member of Wagner, Russia's most notorious mercenary group.

The cargo ship then sailed through the Baltic Sea and around the coast of Denmark.

Mysterious drones were seen over Danish military air bases and airports at the same time. After the ship passed Denmark off the coast of France, it was detained by French authorities for not providing proof of the boat's nationality. Even President Putin was following the news.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They were apparently searching for some kind of cargo, maybe military equipment, drones or something similar. There's nothing there and there never was.

POLGLASE: But actually the two Russian men from Moran Security were still on board, according to Western intelligence sources. And the French authorities questioned them in private.

POLGLASE (voice-over): They were later let go and the ship sailed onto a port in India, where the ship unloaded Russian oil, according to a maritime analytics firm. CNN was unable to contact the management of the ship.

We called Moran Security's deputy director, Alexey Badikov, about the findings. He said, "I am not in a position to confirm whether the two men worked for the group," and said, "It was crazy to suggest the Boracay launched the drones," adding, "If you would like to use drones, you will use fishing vessels or something like that, not from the big oil tanker."

When asked about the claim they are spying for the Russian security services or working for the Russian state, he said, "No comment."

Whatever Moran and Russia are doing at sea, their presence on board these boats is a sign of how brazen Russia has become in the face of their European neighbors.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

POLGLASE (on camera): Well, as E.U. ministers have been meeting all day, clearly, the Russian threat to Europe is high on the agenda.

Back to you, Erin.

BURNETT: All right, Katie. Thank you so much. And incredible reporting.

And next, CNN granted rare access inside the Border Patrol Academy that is now seeing record recruitment numbers. So, who is signing up? You may be surprised.

Plus, he went to the same restaurant every day and ordered the gumbo. When he didn't show up one day, the chef took action and that ended up saving the customers' life. Both men are OUTFRONT tonight together.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:34:18]

BURNETT: Tonight, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tripling the incentive to undocumented immigrants who self-deport from the U.S. now offering them $3,000 and a free flight home if they leave the country by the end of the year. This is CNN is getting rare access inside the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, where there's a surge of new recruits, many Latino, as the Trump administration cracks down on undocumented immigrants.

David Culver is OUTFRONT with this special report tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the morning inspection, and there's about 1,100 recruits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all are a tremendous part of national security. And we sincerely appreciate that you've -- that you've taken the first step and that you've signed up.

[19:35:05]

CULVER (voice-over): After months of requests were granted, rare access inside the U.S. Border Patrol Academy where under President Donald Trump, the

curriculum has changed.

CHIEF JARED ASHBY, U.S. BORDER PATRO; This is the fastest I've ever seen government move.

CULVER (voice-over): One of the biggest changes, a new pursuit policy.

ASHBY: Our last pursuit policy, we would let them go so they knew that the border patrol would not pursue them.

CULVER (voice-over): That's no longer the case

CULVER: Do you feel that?

ASHBY: Oh, yeah.

(GUNFIRE)

CULVER (voice-over): They're also rolling out new firearms technology for better aim.

AGENT JEREMY DAVID, FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR, U.S. BORDER PATROL ACADEMY: The new implementation is the ursids, which is a miniature red dot sight.

CULVER: Is it a game changer, though, for you?

DAVID: One hundred percent.

CULVER: Really?

DAVID: Yes.

CULVER (voice-over): Many of the changes paid for, they say, by President Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill, which also allocates funding for 3,000 new border patrol agents on top of the more than 19,000 already on the job.

ASHBY: We'll grow this year to about 17,800 students at any given time here.

CULVER: And that's going to be a record high.

ASHBY: That will be a record high.

CULVER (voice-over): Keeping those numbers up requires a major recruiting push.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have an incentive right now that if you graduate the academy, you get $10,000.

CULVER (voice-over): Customs and Border Protection says applications are up nearly 70 percent from a year ago.

CULVER: How old are you now?

JUAN PERALTA, BORDER PATROL RECRUIT: I'm 20.

CULVER: You're 20?

PERALTA: Yes.

CULVER: When you tell your friends back home like I'm joining Border Patrol, are some, like, surprised?

PERALTA: Yes. They're kind of like, wow, you're starting pretty young. Or how do you feel about arresting your own kind?

CULVER: And how do you -- how do you answer that when you hear that?

PERALTA: They didn't come in the right way. So they aren't my kind.

CULVER (voice-over): Juan's story may surprise you. Latino, the son of an immigrant raised in a border town. But here, we find that's more common than you might think.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many of you are fluent in Spanish right now? Nativos. Most.

CULVER (voice-over): CBP says more than half of their agents serving along the southern border are Hispanic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who was born and raised along the border? Yeah. Good group.

CULVER (voice-over): To better understand what motivates them to join, we go to El Paso, Texas.

ZIPPORAH RIOS, EL PASO RESIDENT: We have friends who like older siblings who are in Border Patrol, like they're going into Border Patrol. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have a cousin, actually, that's in Georgia, like

doing the training to do Border Patrol and then come back here.

CULVER (voice-over): Increasingly, Border Patrol agents are being pulled into ice operations far from the border, controversial and at times violent.

CULVER: Is that the border patrol? You know, is that what you're accustomed to here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From what I have seen on social media, that definitely doesn't look like something our Border Patrol would be doing or how they would be behaving.

CULVER: And do you think most of them are motivated by it being a good career opportunity?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so.

RIOS: For sure, for sure.

CULVER (voice-over): And just as they can see why some here sign up for border patrol, they also sympathize with migrants trying to do it the right way legally.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then you see people that are getting arrested at court because they're like going through --

RIOS: The process of trying to get their citizenship and doing it the right way, quote, unquote.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they still get detained.

CULVER: Don't. No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sorry. I get emotional.

CULVER (voice-over): We see that in the halls just outside of El Paso's immigration courtrooms, where volunteers prepare folks for their hearings.

CULVER: So, we're going to go see somebody just stepped out of court here. It might be detained by the federal agents, which is an ICE initiative. But we're told Border Patrol agents are supporting this.

CULVER (voice-over): You can hear one of the volunteers praying aloud.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb --

CULVER (voice-over): They took the son into custody and then step back out, realizing his mother was also on their list.

SIGRID GONZALEZ, MIGRANT ADVOCATE: When you see the cruelty, I think this is violent, them just standing right here is violent. CULVER: You really wonder why are they doing this?

GONZALEZ: Yeah, I do get upset and I just tell them this mom, this family, they're not criminals

CLAUDIO HERRERA, BORDER PATROL AGENT: I'm not going after my own kind because my own kind will do it legally.

CULVER (voice-over): Born in Mexico, Agent Claudio Herrera first came to the U.S. as a student. He says it took him 11 years to become a citizen. And six years ago, he joined the border patrol.

HERRERA: I've been asked sometimes before in my -- in my past. Aren't you ashamed of being -- apprehending your own --

CULVER: What do you say to that?

HERRERA: -- blood?

CULVER: How do you answer that?

HERRERA: Of course not. Because I'm protecting my community. My deepest advice to anybody that is coming from Mexico, we know that you want a better future for you and your family. But if you decide to do it illegally, you will only find jail. Or you will only find death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER (on camera): Erin, we found that even with all the debate and tension right now around deporting migrants, interest in joining Border Patrol has not necessarily dropped off, but most of the potential candidates we spoke with stressed that deportations are not what's attracting them to Border Patrol. Instead, they point to the new financial incentives, efforts to stop drugs from getting into the U.S., and what one candidate described to me as a job that means both enforcing the law and as he sees it, helping migrants navigate legal pathways into the U.S. -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right, David, thank you very much.

And next, a 78-year-old vet ate at the same restaurant every day for ten years. And then one day he didn't show up and the chef ended up saving his life. And they're going to tell you their story live next.

Plus, President Trump unveiling what he's calling a new class of battleships, a new class called Trump.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:45:24]

BURNETT: Tonight, we want to share a special story with you this holiday season and Christmas week, a story filled with hope and kindness and the kind of story that, frankly, we don't get to tell often enough. And it begins with a familiar face and a daily routine. Seventy-eight-year-old Air Force veteran Charlie Hicks is a regular at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola.

For a decade, Charlie came in like clockwork. He had the same standing order every single day, twice a day. That order is a warm cup of gumbo, light on the rice. Hold the cracker.

And then one day, Charlie didn't show up and Donell Stallworth, the chef who makes that gumbo, knew immediately that something wasn't right. And he followed his heart. He got into his car immediately. He drove to Charlie's apartment, and inside he found Charlie helpless, unable to get up after a fall, two broken ribs, severely dehydrated, so weak he could barely speak.

Donell called for help immediately. He saved Charlie's life, and there's so much more to this story.

And joining us now, Air Force veteran and longtime customer of the Shrimp Basket, Charlie Hicks and Shrimp Basket chef Donell Stallworth. And it is a real -- a real pleasure and joy to speak to you and to have a story like yours to tell.

Charlie, there are so many wonderful, wonderful parts to this story and your friendship, but I guess let's just start that day. What do you remember about what happened before Donell found you?

CHARLIE HICKS, VETERAN: Well, I was. I fell in the kitchen, and I don't even remember the fall, but that's where I wound up, and I wiggled my way. I'll call it, to my recliner, but couldn't get up in it. You know, recliner rocks. So I couldn't get any leverage. So then I was attempting to make it to the front door on my, crawl to the front door. I better put it.

And, I just couldn't do it. And I fell again. And that's when I cracked my ribs. I tried to rearrange the bookcase with my ribs is what got me, but, I didn't know how I was going to get out of it. The only option I had left since the battery was dead in my phone was to maybe crawl out the front door and lie on the sidewalk that somebody found me.

I was down to that. But then Donell opened the door, and called his the restaurant here in that's how -- that's how it got me. They called 911, and the ambulance came and got me.

BURNETT: I mean, Donell, Charlie comes in every single day, right? He becomes just part of your life, right? You know, I mean, you probably, you know, set your clock by him, as we would say in the old days before phones when he didn't show up, what told you, Danielle, that there was something, that there was something wrong that you needed to go?

DONELL STALLWORTH, CHIEF AT SHIRIMP BASKET: It's just the spirit. Just anointing. Its just came over me. Something just new. At that moment, I know something was wrong because he don't' miss no days. And then it just kept continuing to go on for, like, another week or so.

But I'm used to looking at him every time I walk past the door, and I'm waiting on him to come in so I can bring him some gumbo and we can start our day. But that has been like missing for a while, so I was trying to let the day just work its way out. But the day before that. But I was just like that third day. I was like, something just told me to grab my keys and head out to go try to find him. What's going on with him?

BURNETT: I mean, Charlie, could you at this point, your days, you're so dehydrated, you're broken ribs. I cant even imagine how you felt or how even aware you were. Gosh, what did you think? When it was Donell's face opened the door and you looked up.

HICKS: Well, it was a welcome sight, I'll tell you that. I didn't know how it was going to work out if I made it to the front door and crawled out on the sidewalk. No telling how long it would take. And somebody to find me, but the everything worked out just the best it could, I guess.

I was in rehab for two, two months.

[19:50:02]

So, it was a long ordeal. When you get to be 78 and you fall, it's tough.

STALLWORTH: Yes.

HICKS: Not like when you were younger.

STALLWORTH: Yes.

BURNETT: No, no. And I guess, you know, one of the things, if you're 78 when that happens, I guess you're so grateful for those who love you, right? And in your case, you found out who that is, right? And it's Donell, and it's your family there at the Shrimp Basket.

Donell, you know that that the rescue itself wasn't the end of the story because Charlie's talking about the two months he spent in rehab. And at that time, you and others in your restaurant decided to help him move in. And you decide to help him move where, where he wanted to be, right? Where he loves to be, next to your restaurant.

STALLWORTH: Yes.

BURNETT: I mean, can you tell me were showing some pictures here, but tell me about what we're looking at, Donell?

STALLWORTH: Well, the management at the shrimp basket came together with the rest of the crew, and we found that in our hearts to try to reach out to the landlord and bring the landlord on top of everything and see if we can get Mr. Hicks to move in next door. But the moment that we found out he was going to be put out of his old apartment. So, we started preparing and trying to get all of what we can to do at that moment.

So, we started going in and fixing up the house painting. I mean, if it was bringing in appliances, if it was breaking the yard, if it was just trying to pull together to be whatever we needed to do, we did it. And it was all because of just -- we love him and we're trying to make the best for him.

BURNETT: Charlie. You know, it's when we think about love, which is not something we get the joy of talking about on the show a lot. But you think about the love around you and how Donell and everyone there sees you as family -- I know one of them even calls you grandpa. They celebrate your birthday.

How does it feel to have a family like this? To have this love in your life?

HICKS: Well, you know, it's pretty awakening it might be the best way to put it. I don't belong to any group or any -- anybody else my age. So. All I can say is when this happened, I didn't know what I was going to do, but, they came to visit me in the hospital, and in the rehab facility.

STALLWORTH: Well, Mr. Hicks is family, regardless of how you look at it. He was family way before the situation happened. It's just the point that we hate that the situation occurred. But we're glad that the support team was there because it took everybody in the restaurant. We all pulled together each day.

If it was in the hospital bringing them gumbo, if it was at rehab, we bringing them gumbo. We was bringing them magazines. We was cheering them up just by being able to be there at his side.

And that's what people missing out that right there because ain't nobody taking time out to support each other and care and look out for each other. I mean, you got to take your eyes off yourself and look at your neighbor. You got to go way beyond that. I don't care who it is or where they're from. Just reach out. Just take time out to listen to somebody and get to know their story, because their story is just the same as yours. They just need a little care, a little love, somebody to listen.

And ten years with, with Mr. Hicks has been a beautiful thing for me because I've been able to grow and learn a lot from him. And we talk about life and just things in general. So I'm glad to have him as my friend, but I'm also glad to have him back here because it felt like a ghost town without him for a minute. And until I seen him come in that door. So I'm glad and I'm thankful.

BURNETT: So, I'm just looking at the table in front of you, and I'm -- that's obviously got to be gumbo, right? Tell me about that gumbo. Because I know Donell's the same order every time, right? What is it, Charlie

HICKS: Well, it's a warm up sometimes.

STALLWORTH: Yeah.

HICKS: You got to my main meal, but sometimes I didn't feel like having any more than gumbo. So maybe two cups. Yeah, instead of the main course.

STALLWORTH: Yeah. BURNETT: Donell, you know, I guess, though, now you've got this

friendship, this family. But at the beginning, it was gumbo. So, Donell, what is it? What is your secret ingredient?

STALLWORTH: Love, love, love is always in the food. But when you can bring somebody together and sit down with them, and you can get to know them and reach way beyond that, the food starts at first. But that gumbo started some ten years ago with me and Mr. Hicks, and it brought us together.

[19:55:04]

And we've been having gumbo ever since, and we've been talking about the same shows ever since, from football, baseball, whatever he got on his mind, I'm going to listen. And at the same time, we going to sit down and have a cup of gumbo together and smile and laugh. So, everybody come through that door. It's going to get the same family treatment, the same love that we give to Mr. Hicks. We give it to every customer, come through the door.

We might not know the problem or the situation going through, but we willing to listen. We willing to take time out and feed you with some good local gulf seafood. And were going to take the time to give you the best experience we can.

But for us, Mr. Hicks, I already know what he wants when he come through the door. So I just cut straight to it.

BURNETT: No one needs to take his order.

STALLWORTH: But you got to go light on the rice. Yeah, he don't want -- you give him too much rice. He going to send it back.

BURNETT: When you can ever lower the standard.

HICKS: When you're 70.

BURNETT: Yeah.

STALLWORTH: No, no, it got to be exact same. I mean, a good cup of hot gumbo and a little rice. You don't want no crackers. So, yeah.

BURNETT: Well, it is a joy to talk to both of you and. Yeah, especially, especially this week. What a wonderful -- what a wonderful friendship, and the Shrimp Basket.

Thank you both so very much.

STALLWORTH: Y'all have a blessed night.

HICKS: Thank you.

STALLWORTH: Thank you.

BURNETT: You, too. You, too.

And next, Trump unveiling a new class of battleship named after, you guessed it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: Finally tonight, President Trump unveiling a new class of navy battleships named after himself. Trump showing off these renderings of the new, quote/unquote, Trump class fleet of ships and saying that the upgrades are long overdue.

CNN military analyst, retired Colonel Cedric Leighton tells OUTFRONT, I quote him, it's unclear what the exact mission of the new Trump class ships will be. They could cost more than $5 billion apiece. We have to be careful here not to sink billions into the development of a weapons system that can't deliver.

And of course, this is far from the first thing Trump has put his name onto even recently, the Kennedy Center, the U.S. Institute of Peace, also recently unveiling the Trump gold card to expedite the immigration process if you pay $1 million and the Trump accounts for new babies.

Thanks so much to all of you for joining us. See you tomorrow.

"AC360" starts now.