Sin Fronteras: Shrinking Workforce

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
PROGRAM #10895 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: Jose Lopez Zamorano, Correspondent, Washington, DC; Araceli Martínez, Reporter, Los Angeles, CA; Mariana Pineda, Reporter, Houston, TX.

Shrinking Workforce. Over one million immigrants exited the U.S. labor force during the first half of 2025. The decline includes both documented and undocumented individuals. This reduction comes just as the overall immigrant population in the U.S. shows its first drop, following a historic peak in 2023.

Guest: Alexis Teodoro, Director, Labor Rights at the Day Laborers Center, Pomona Economic Opportunity Center-PEOC, Pomona, CA.

New Barriers to Citizenship. The Trump administration has reinstated so-called “neighborhood checks” for citizenship applicants. Under this policy, neighbors and coworkers may now be interviewed as part of the process. Who might be targeted for investigation? What should applicants know about this new filter? What impact could this have on naturalization?

Guest: Rosalba Piña, Immigration Attorney, Chicago, IL.

Maternal Health Without Funding? The new budget megabill cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade, putting rural hospitals at serious risk. Since Medicaid is the primary source of funding for prenatal care, expecting mothers —especially in rural areas—are bound to face growing obstacles in accessing medical services. What risks do rural hospitals face? What happens when giving birth requires traveling hundreds of miles? Who protects the health of rural women when the system no longer does? What about the organizations providing these services?

Guest: Alejandra Soto, Director of Latino Communications, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, NY today from England.

Mega Solar Project Reaches Central Valley. Fresno County, in California’s Central Valley, will host the world’s largest solar and battery storage project, central to the state’s goal of achieving 100% clean electricity. But what does this mean for the rural communities surrounding it? While technological advances are celebrated, environmental justice groups warn of an unequal transition: residents still face contaminated water, extreme heat, and decades of disinvestment. Could the energy revolution also become a path to fix inequities? What are the broader implications of this transition?

Guest: Oralia Maceda, leads organizational efforts in the Central California Environmental Justice Network, Program Director, Binational Center for Oaxacan Indigenous Development-CBDIO, Fresno, CA.

Photo: EqualStock/Unsplash

For more information about Linea Abierta and to find previous shows visit our  Linea Abierta