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09/27/2006
PBS reporter speaks on immigration
By: Jason Peck

A senior correspondent with PBS acknowledged last Thursday that illegal immigration is more complex than the media portrays it.
Speaking before a crowd of 60 at the University of Mary Washington, Ray Suarez of "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" claimed that the shrinking size of news stories forces the media to find the "howling pros and cons."

"There are farmers in the most conservative parts of the country who are happy to hire illegals," Suarez said. "There are people who are against immigration, but hire illegal immigrants to be nannies for their kids".

"I can't say it's all been that way," he added, "but on the broadcast end, a lot has been inflammatory, emotional, sentimental and not very informative."

At the same time, Suarez acknowledged the huge influx has created uneasiness among many Americans. Older generations of immigrants like the Irish, Croatian and Poles came in great numbers and then generally subsided. By contrast, Hispanic immigration is far more steady.

He pointed to globalization, which opens the market to international labor.

"When it comes on this strong it's sure to make people nervous," Suarez said. "For every American who's pretty comfortable with the idea of a browning country, there's at least one, probably more, that worry about what it's going to mean to American culture".

"As Mexicans, they do an amazing and paradoxical thing for Americans. If they stay in Mexico, they steal American jobs. If they come across the border and work here, they steal American jobs."

He later predicted that more towns would adopt laws similar to Hazelton, Pa., where ordinances fine people who knowingly hire and rent to illegal immigrants.

But the noted journalist also expressed confidence that Hispanics would integrate themselves into American culture like the groups before them, and cautioned against stereotyping Hispanics.

"Turn on the TV, and Jennifer Lopez may be gyrating and throwing you her top and reminding you that her love doesn't cost a thing," Suarez said, "But elsewhere in that 500-channel universe, blow-dried Latino televangelists remind congregations of the threats to their eternal souls from MTV."

Suarez was, however, open to dissent. During the question period, a student supported the infamous Foreign Policy article "Jose, Can You See?" that claimed Latin immigration would create two Americas. Suarez had previously derided the article.

"The worst part is, he could be right," Suarez said of the author. "But if you're a scholar, half the job is to have some evidence to say this group is detached from the history of the United States."

Suarez referenced his youth growing up in a New York neighborhood where recently arrived immigrants spoke Yiddish, German and Spanish.

"I keep on hearing about all these immigrants who got off the boat speaking English, reciting Shakespeare perhaps. Maybe I just didn't hear them."

You may contact Jason Peck at 825-9882 or e-mail jpeck@timespapers.com