Sin Fronteras: Shutdown: How Much Longer? 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

PROGRAM #10937  12:00 PM PT 

Sin Fronteras. This is a program of “Sin Fronteras,” a special series to serve audiences in the US and Mexico with breaking news and analysis about major developments impacting Latinos in the US.

Guests: Mariana Pineda, Reporter, Houston, TX; Jesus Garcia, Reporter and Editor of Politics, Immigration, and National Affairs, El Diario and La Opinión newspapers, New York, NY.

Shutdown: How Much Longer? 

As the federal government shutdown drags on, vulnerable communities are beginning to feel its effects. In Native American territories, essential medical services have been suspended. Veterans are losing access to key benefits. Farmers face uncertainty when planning next season’s crops. Taxpayers encounter overwhelmed IRS hotlines. Which services are starting to break down amid stalled negotiations? What risks loom if Congress fails to reach a deal? And how is the lack of customs and port services affecting U.S.–Mexico trade?

Guest: ​​Lorelei Salas, Former Director of Supervision, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau-CFPB, New York, NY.

ICE on Social Media. The immigration agency is seeking to expand its digital surveillance capabilities by hiring dozens of analysts to monitor platforms like Facebook, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The goal: to use posts, comments, and messages as leads for immigration enforcement operations. This strategy, grounded in contracts with tech firms, has raised red flags among civil rights advocates, who warn of potential constitutional violations. What do these plans entail? How far will the surveillance go? How might this affect immigrant communities and their freedom of expression?

Guest: William Owen, Communications Director, Surveillance Technology Oversight Project-STOP, New York, NY.

Discretionary Justice. New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted for fraud, as the Department of Justice—under Trump’s direction—ramps up prosecutions of political opponents. James Comey, John Bolton, and Senator Adam Schiff are also under investigation. These actions reignite concerns over the separation of powers and the use of judicial institutions to target adversaries. How do these moves jeopardize democratic checks and balances? What is the relationship between the executive and judiciary since Trump’s return to the White House? How do these actions impact the rule of law?

Guest: Kira Romero-Craft, Attorney, Brennan Center for Justice, Orlando, FL.

More Protection for Children. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law allowing relatives to care for children if their parents are deported. Praised by immigrant and child rights advocates, the law bars daycare providers from collecting immigration information and allows parents to designate temporary legal guardians. Conservative sectors, however, oppose the law, claiming it opens the door to child trafficking. What does the law actually stipulate? Why is it significant in the context of mass deportations? What happens to children whose parents are removed from the country?

Guest: Jeannette Zanipatin, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles-CHIRLA, Los Angeles, CA.

Photo: tanaonte/Adobe Stock

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