Immigration debate or Latino-phobia?

Cristina Saralegui host and executive producer of Univision’s top-rated The Cristina Show, tackles the immigration debate with a compelling program that shows us the human face of this heated issue. “Latino-Phobia” airs Monday, May 1, 2006 at 10:00 PM (ET) on the Univision Network.

“It’s clear that Latinos are more united than ever, regardless of nationality, age or social status,” says Cristina. “We are all feeling the sting of racism because the current wave of anti-immigrant sentiment is not about immigration or national security, it is simply Latino-phobia. If we were immigrating from, say, Europe, there would not be a big problem.”

The show features Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is the first Latino Mayor of Los Angeles in more than 100 years, as well as Cruz Bustamante, Lt. Governor of California who discuss the political and social ramifications of the immigration debate in Congress.

There’s also a heated debate between popular Los Angeles DJ Eduardo “Piolin” Sotelo and catholic priest Luís Nieto, who square off against Julio Girón of the “Minutemen” civilian border patrol group and Jack Martin from the American Federation of Immigration Reform, both of whom favor mass deportations of Hispanics.

“Latino-Phobia” also shows the human side of this political issue as Cristina brings us the stories of Latino families suffering through this anti-immigrant climate. There’s a mother who lost her 14-year old son after he participated in a student march supporting immigrant rights. The story evokes pain but also rage and indignation.

Cristina also presents immigrants who are caught, handcuffed, jailed and treated as criminals at the hands of immigration agents. We also meet a mother so desperate, she sewed her mouth shut to protest the deportation of her husband and son to compel immigration authorities to hear her pleas.

“The Cristina Show” airs Monday nights at 10:00 PM (ET)/9:00 PM (Central) on Univision Network.