The new Public Charge Rule, which may determine that an alien is inadmissible to the United States based on the alien’s likelihood of becoming a public charge at any time in the future, is now in effect. Interestingly, the coverage of the rule on Spanish-language news media prominently featured the advice of immigration attorneys in a clear display of free publicity.
The following clip includes segments from Noticias Telemundo, Univision Digital Edition and Telemundo´s Un Nuevo Día, and one cannot help but wonder if the media buyers at both networks included in their contracts a public relations push for one of the ubiquitous advertisers on Hispanic television: immigration attorneys.
Noticias Telemundo
JOSÉ DÍAZ-BALART: Today, the new Public Charge Rule that denies the dream of getting a Green Card to thousands of immigrants receiving government benefits came into force. Francisco Fajardo has an attorney's advice for people in that situation.
FRANCISCO FAJARDO: The advice of attorneys is clear: don't hold yourself back from getting benefits without first seeking counsel.
[…]
Univisión Edición Digital, 2-24-2020
BORJA VOCES: We will continue, with these attorneys' recommendations: First of all, inform yourself, never lie on a form, and when in doubt, always (seek) the advice of an attorney.
[…]
Telemundo, Un Nuevo Día, 2-24-2020
ALMA ROSA NIETO, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY: As an attorney, I recommend that you do not cancel programs that the family may need without first seeking legal counsel.
In addition to the free advertising for their liberal attorney darlings, the Telemundo and Univision reports were heavily loaded with same old warnings to immigrants about the impending Armageddon that will befall on them thanks to the new rule, as previously noted by MRC Latino.
If the Hispanic news media really cared about their audiences, instead of promoting fear and panic with forewarnings of Doomsday, they would instead laud the measure for what it is, as explained by Ken Cuccinelli, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary for DHS: “Self-sufficiency is a core American value and has been part of immigration law for centuries. President Trump has called for long-standing immigration law to be enforced, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is delivering on this promise to the American people. By requiring those seeking to come or stay in the United States to rely on their own resources, families and communities, we will encourage self-sufficiency, promote immigrant success and protect American taxpayers.”
Far from “denying the dream of getting a Green Card to thousands of immigrants,” as Telemundo anchor Diaz-Balart claims, the Public Charge Rule should ensure prosperity for the Hispanic community, especially now that unemployment numbers have reached historically low numbers thanks to the measures taken by the Administration of President Donald Trump.
