(San Francisco, CA) Línea Abierta, the only talk show of its kind in national public radio, is launching a new, biweekly series to inform and motivate immigrant listeners on how to advocate for themselves in the current anti-immigrant climate. The recent emphasis on restricting immigrants and border militarizing on national security grounds, and the support gained by immigrant-hunting vigilantes and proposals to deny citizenship to U.S. born children, all have dramatically pushed immigrants deeper into the shadows, to family separations and to risk death on the border.

As a response, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund has provided Radio Bilingüe with support for biweekly talk shows and news features with a focus on current immigration reform proposals. Part of Línea Abierta’s Immigration Edition, the series features analysis by well-known civic leaders and provides current news on community activities that rarely make it to the nation’s headlines. In addition, listeners’ calls are an important part of the show. Through their questions and opinions, listeners learn more about the laws and are encouraged to organize themselves and actively engage in civic life thereby celebrating the nation’s best democratic values and thus becoming full and active citizens.

The co-host of this radio series is attorney Rosalba Piña who specializes in immigration law. Born in Chicago of Mexican parents, Piña established her law practice in the La Villita Neighborhood, is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and a columnist for Chicago media outlets.

Almost in its eleventh year on the air, Línea Abierta continues to be the first and only live talk show on Spanish-language radio that has continuously served audiences across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico with engaging shows designed to inform, educate and address issues that improve the lives of Latinos. Línea Abierta currently airs on 44 affiliate stations. The talk show service is a production of Radio Bilingüe and its satellite service, Satélite Radio Bilingüe, the national Latino public radio network with headquarters in Fresno and San Francisco, CA. Radio Bilingüe’s audio service is also available online via a webcast stream on www.radiobilingue.org.

Funding for the series is made possible in part by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

 

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