Even though Telemundo typically covers just about anything related to the topic of immigration, so far the network has failed to inform its audience about a new effort among conservatives to address the immigration issue.
Telemundo rivals Univision and MundoFox both reported on the initiative, which is the brainchild of the conservative organization American Principles in Action and was unveiled at a forum at Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies.
At the forum, leaders such as Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Congressman Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho), TeaParty.net Executive Director Niger Innis and American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp discussed the possibility of Congress’ passing a series of immigration measures that would not take effect until after President Obama leaves office.
PABLO GATO: This influential conservative organization based in Washington launched a plan of immigration reform, and they say it’s possible; but, it will have to be implemented once Obama leaves the presidency.
…
ALFONSO AGUILAR: What we are trying to do is create a plan that allows conservative Republicans to take up the immigration issue again, to feel comfortable with the topic of immigration, and for Congress to legislate now.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: By prioritizing border security and migrant control, the proposal opens the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. But, a key Congressman could not guarantee that Republicans could approve the plan prior to the 2016 election.
CONGRESSMAN RAUL LABRADOR: for that reason we are going to have to establish our vision of how we are going to fix this problem. And then a Republican president will be able to implement this vision
As reported by Univision and MundoFox, the so-called “5 Point Conservative Immigration Plan” calls for extending double fencing to all areas along the southern border where illegal crossings can potentially occur, mandates all businesses to use the federal employment eligibility verification system (E-Verify) and a biometric tracking system of foreign nationals to ensure they depart the country by the time their visa expires.
The plan also includes a foreign guest worker program, to be used only in situations where employers cannot find American workers first, and provides a path to legal status for unauthorized immigrants currently living in the country.
Relevant portions of the referenced Noticiero Univisión and MundoFox segments are below.
Noticiero Univision
11:30 p.m. May 19, 2015
PABLO GATO: This influential conservative organization based in Washington launched a plan of immigration reform, and they say it’s possible; but, it will have to be implemented once Obama leaves the presidency. What for many may be a surprise, they include a citizenship pathway for the undocumented.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: The Republicans—and this is noted in my plan—oppose a special pathway to citizenship. The undocumented will have to be legalized and granted a pathway to legal status, and if they wish to become citizens, it should not be denied.
PABLO GATO: This door will be open only after reinforcing border security and implementing a program that will prevent employers from hiring undocumented workers. But, this Republican who attended the event dismissed the idea when he refused to include the issue of citizenship.
RAUL LABRADOR: The door to citizenship should only be open as it is open now. Everyone who goes through the immigration process correctly has the door, at that time, open.
PABLO GATO: The conservative group supports immigration reform, but not a comprehensive one, rather in small steps.
…
PABLO GATO: This indicates that the prospects for immigration reform are still very, very remote. Meanwhile, President Obama’s executive action case continues in the Appellate Court of New Orleans. Millions of people anxiously await the decision, which could be made at any moment.
Noticias MundoFox
May 19, 2015
CAROLINA SARRASA, ANCHOR: Talking about immigration, let me tell you about a conservative group that met today in the nation’s capital to announce that the moment has come for immigration reform, but through piecemeal legislation. Nevertheless, they hold that this will only happen after President Obama leaves office in two years.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: Despite immigration reform being stagnant in Washington, a conservative group presented to the Republican-controlled Congress today a plan of separate bills, which include granting legalized status to undocumented immigrants in 2017.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: What we are trying to do is create a plan that allows conservative Republicans to take up the immigration issue again, to feel comfortable with the topic of immigration, and for Congress to legislate now.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: By prioritizing border security and migrant control, the proposal opens the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. But, a key Congressman could not guarantee that Republicans could approve the plan prior to the 2016 election.
CONGRESSMAN RAUL LABRADOR: for that reason we are going to have to establish our vision of how we are going to fix this problem. And then a Republican president will be able to implement this vision
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: It also includes a program of temporary workers—unrestricted by quotas—and this program will be presented in the middle of an internal campaign for the presidential nomination, with diverse opinions across its candidates.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: We have candidates like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio—who has shown support for sequential steps to resolve the issue of immigration—and that’s what we are proposing. But, the immigrant community and Latino community will have to be content that conservatives are promoting a solution that will lead to a legalization path for the undocumented.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: Given the Republican Party’s distrust towards President Obama, Aguilar urged that the key proposals will only be implemented after 2017.
According to a poll, immigration is the fifth priority for republican voters, while sixth for democrats.
Español Original
Noticiero Univisión, Edición Nocturna
19 de Mayo, 11:30 p.m.
PABLO GATO: Esta influyente organización conservadora de Washington lanzó un plan para una reforma migratoria, dicen que es posible; pero, que tendría que ser implementada una vez Obama no sea presidente. Lo que para muchos sería una sorpresa, incluyen un camino a la ciudadanía para los indocumentados.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: Los Republicanos—y eso está recogido en mi plan—se oponen a un paso especial a la ciudadanía. A los indocumentados hay que legalizarlos y darle un paso a un estatus legal, y si quieren hacerse ciudadanos que no se les cierren las puertas a la ciudadanía.
PABLO GATO: Esa puerta estaría abierta tras reforzar la seguridad en la frontera e implementar un programa que impida contratar a trabajadores indocumentados. Pero, éste republicano que fue al evento echó un jarro de agua fría a la idea cuándo se negó a incluir el tema de la ciudadanía.
RAUL LABRADOR: La puerta a la ciudadanía solamente debe estar abierta como está abierta ahora. Todas las personas que van por el proceso de inmigración correctamente tienen la puerta, en ese momento, abierta.
PABLO GATO: El grupo conservador apoya una reforma, pero no integral, sino en pazos.
…
PABLO GATO: A lo que indica que una reforma sigue siendo una posibilidad muy, pero que muy, remota. Mientras tanto, el caso de la acción ejecutiva del Presidente Obama continúa en el tribunal de apelaciones de Nueva Orleans. Millones de personas esperan ansiosamente la decisión, que podría tomarse en cualquier momento.
Noticias MundoFox
May 19, 2015 5:30 p.m.
CAROLINA SARRASA: Justamente hablando del tema, le cuento que un grupo conservador en la capital del país ha dicho que ha llegado el momento de esa reforma migratoria, pero en pedazos. Sin embargo, dicen que esto sería después de la salida del mandatario de la presidencia, o sea en más de dos años. José Díaz Briseño tells us about it.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: A pesar de que en Washington una reforma migratoria está estancada, un grupo conservador presentó hoy al Congreso—dominado por los Republicanos—un plan de leyes separadas, que incluye dar legalización a indocumentados en 2017.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: Lo que estamos tratando es crear un plan que permita a los conservadores republicanos retomar el tema de inmigración, sentirse cómodos con el tema de inmigración y para este Congreso legislar ahora.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: Dando prioridad a la seguridad fronteriza y al control migratorio, la propuesta abre la ciudadanía a los indocumentados. Pero un congresista clave no pudo asegurar que los republicanos pudieran avalar el plan previo a la elección de 2016.
RAUL LABRADOR: Por eso nosotros vamos a tener que establecer nuestra visión de cómo nosotros vamos a arreglar este problema. Y entonces un presidente republicano va a poder establecer esta visión.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: Conteniendo también un programa de trabajadores temporales sin cuota máxima, el programa es presentado en medio de una campaña interna por la nominación presidencial republicana, con diversas posiciones sobre inmigración.
ALFONSO AGUILAR: Tenemos candidatos como Jeb Bush, como Marco Rubio—Marco Rubio ha apoyado un esfuerzo secuencial para resolver el tema de inmigración, y eso es lo que estamos proponiendo. Pero, la comunidad inmigrante y la comunidad latina tienen que estar contenta de que hay conservadores que quieren promover una solución que llevaría a una legalización de los indocumentados.
JOSÉ DÍAZ BRISEÑO: Ante la desconfianza republicana por las acciones ejecutivas del presidente Obama, Aguilar pidió implementar las partes claves de su plan hasta el 2017.
De acuerdo a una encuesta, el tema migratorio es la prioridad número cinco de los votantes republicanos y la sexta de los votantes demócratas.
