Hispanic Media Help Community Navigate 'Anti-Immigrant' Climate

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hispanic media, which played a key role in mobilizing immigrants over the last two years – from encouraging millions to participate in national marches to letter writing and citizenship campaigns – now face a daunting task.

With federal immigration reform out of reach until 2009, and an increasing number of local “anti-immigrant” laws across the country, Spanish-language media must help their communities navigate and keep hope alive amidst a climate of panic and fear.

“What’s going to happen is each state is going to enact its own laws against immigrants – it’s already happening in Georgia and Arizona, and they’re trying to pass something similar here in Alabama,” says Jairo Vargas, director of the Spanish radio station Latino Mix 1480 AM and editor of the 10-year-old weekly newspaper Latino News in Alabama.

Vargas’ media outlet has started a community service campaign to give immigrants a more positive image in Alabama, from collecting trash along the river to visiting a senior citizens’ home.

In Georgia, where two laws recently went into effect that target undocumented immigrants, the community is suffering from “fear, uncertainty and disappointment,” says Judith Martinez-Sadri, editor of the bilingual newspaper Atlanta Latino.

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