It should be recognized that there is a substantial, noteworthy difference between someone who is opposed to immigration – a person who can conceivably and legitimately be labelled as “anti-immigrant” – and someone who favors legal immigration into the country but is opposed to illegal immigration, for whom the all-encompassing “anti-immigrant’ label clearly does not apply and constitutes, in fact, a grossly inaccurate smear.
Telemundo anchor José Díaz-Balart, however, still apparently does not recognize that distinction when presenting news to his viewers about President-elect Donald Trump.
JOSE DIAZ-BALART, NEWS ANCHOR, TELEMUNDO: Authorities here in Los Angeles remain defiant before the anti-immigrant posture of Donald Trump.
Díaz-Balart and his colleagues at Telemundo could choose a number of other ways to accurately describe to viewers what is going on in the sanctuary city of Los Angeles, whose leaders are indeed adamant about not cooperating with the enforcement of federal immigration laws currently on the books, the strict enforcement of which is supported by the President-elect.
For example, how about a change so slight but important as “Authorities here in Los Angeles remain defiant before the tough posture against illegal immigration of Donald Trump” or “Authorities here in Los Angeles remain defiant against the immigration policy of Donald Trump”?
To refuse to make such a distinction in the news coverage of such matters is to play fast and loose with the facts, as well as clearly favor the liberal policy narrative on the issue. The rest of Díaz-Balart’s introduction to the report on the conflict over immigration policy in Los Angeles acknowledged that there are strongly divided opinions on the matter, even within the city’s predominantly Hispanic community. It’s time for all the coverage, from beginning to end, to respect and reflect those differences, without tarring and feathering the pro-law enforcement side with a wholly inaccurate and broad-brush negative label.
Below is the full transcript of the referenced report, which aired at the top of the January 10, 2017 edition of Noticiero Telemundo.
NOTICIERO TELEMUNDO
JANUARY 10, 2017
JOSE DIAZ-BALART, NEWS ANCHOR, TELEMUNDO: Very good afternoon. Authorities here in Los Angeles remain defiant before the anti-immigrant posture of Donald Trump. Today the decision of this city to create a special fund to avoid mass deportations generated protests in the streets, where opposing groups clashed and shouted at each other. Edgar Muños was a witness to how even among Hispanics, there are divided opinions.
EDGAR MUÑOZ, CORRESPONDENT, TELEMUNDO: Pro-immigrant groups and sanctuary city critics clashed in a verbal war outside the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. On one side, shouting, they called for support for undocumented immigrants who have committed minor crimes, and whom the Los Angeles supervisors plan to support with legal counsel in the face of massive deportations with Donald Trump.
DAVID ABUD, NATIONAL DAY LABORERS NETWORK: Our Moms and Dads and our friends are people who have made mistakes, no? And they have those criminal records.
EDGAR MUÑOZ, CORRESPONDENT, TELEMUNDO: In this war of protests, the presence of the Police was necessary, and at this moment as you can see they are mediating between the two groups so nothing escalates. Angry activists who favor the deportations protested the $10 million the County is allocating to the Immigrant Fund, when there are necessities with veterans and homeless people.
TAMMY LOU, AGAINST SANCTUARY CITIES: Americans first. We are tired of seeing people murder – criminal immigrants who go in and out of the country
EDGAR MUÑOZ, CORRESPONDENT, TELEMUNDO: Says Tammy Lou. Sheriff Jim McDonnell for the first time stated before the supervisors that he is not going to share information about prisoners and people he detains with the federal immigration service. Supervisor Hilda Solís said the county is going to defend the undocumented.
HILDA SOLIS, SUPERVISOR, LOS ANGELES COUNTY: We are going to protect their rights, especially their data.
CARLOS AMADOR, PRO-IMMIGRANT PROTESTER: And that there isn’t collaboration between Immigration and the Sheriff of Los Angeles, which is what exists now.
EDGAR MUÑOZ, CORRESPONDENT, TELEMUNDO: Pro-immigrant activists announced they will intensify street protests against massive deportations. In Los Angeles, Edgar Muñoz, Noticias Telemundo.
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