June 21, 2013
Contact: María de Jesús Gómez, 559-455-5782, chuyag@legacy.radiobilingue.org
Radio Bilingüe presents live town-hall meeting as immigration reform reaches critical stage
Radio Bilingüe will host and broadcast a special live town hall meeting on immigration reform and DACA, the temporary stay granted to young immigrants by the White House, on Monday, July 1st, 2013 from 5 to 7 PM PST from Fresno City Hall in California. The bilingual forum is open to the public and will provide a space for immigrant families and those living in the shadows to be heard as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on immigration reform and the House of Representatives begins debates on immigration-oriented bills.
U.S. House legislation that seeks to restrict the ability of immigrants to legalize has raised concerns among immigrant and Latino communities that their voices are not being heard in the current debate. Young immigrants will headline the forum, at a time when fewer youth are now applying for the benefit of temporary protection under DACA, the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals program.
Congressional Representatives of the four districts in California’s San Joaquin Valley have been invited to the forum to listen to testimonies ranging from family members separated by deportation, to young students whose lives are in limbo, as well as opinions from law enforcement officials and leaders of the agricultural industry. The Valley has rapidly changed with congressional districts now home to larger than ever Latino and Asian constituencies who have high stakes and strong concerns about the outcome of this historic moment for immigration reform in the nation.
The forum, in English and Spanish and hosted by Radio Bilingüe’s Alma Martínez and Samuel Orozco, will air live across the Radio Bilingüe public radio network, including the entire San Joaquin Valley through KSJV-FM 91.5 in Fresno, KTQX-FM 90.1 in Bakersfield, and KMPO-FM 88.7 in Modesto. In addition, Radio Bilingüe’s nationally-distributed talk show Línea Abierta will air a tape-delayed edition of the forum the following day July 2 at 12 noon PT over its satellite network. The programs will also be available online via webcast and podcast on www.radiobilingue.org.
Key community partners joining Radio Bilingüe in organizing the forum include Fresno Immigrant Youth in Action, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, Coalición Primero de Mayo, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, CASA-UNEI, the UFW Foundation, and Education and Leadership Foundation.
Radio Bilingüe is the leading Latino public radio network and content producer for the nation’s public broadcasting system, with headquarters in Fresno and Oakland, California. Funding for national distribution of immigration-oriented programming has been provided in part by The Walter and Evelyn Haas Jr. Fund, The Ford Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, the Open Society Foundation, and the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Radio Bilingüe’s service is also possible thanks to the contributions of listener supporters.
