Skip to main content
February 29, 2016San Salvador, El SalvadorOperational

Community outreach beyond the border

International advisor shares key messages throughout El Salvador
Channel 12 Interview with Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez Inauguration of Directorate for Migrants Inauguration of Directorate for Migrants, Audience Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez, along with Press Attache Molly Sanchez-Crowe, talk with print journalists Radio Sonora interview with Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez Viva la Manana interview with Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez Radio YSKL interview with Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez Live Streaming Photographs of Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez, through Facebook Live Streaming Photographs of Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez, through Facebook
Photos courtesy of US Embassy San Salvador

In an effort to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) achieve one of its primary outreach objectives, Senior Advisor for Latin America Barbara Gonzalez visited El Salvador recently, where she spoke with several of the country’s largest and most influential radio, television, print and online media outlets to discuss some of the dangers and misconceptions about attempting to make the long and difficult journey north from El Salvador to the United States.

During her two days in El Salvador, Ms. Gonzalez gave radio interviews on the country’s two highest-rated interview programs. Throughout her interviews, Gonzalez made a point to clarify that U.S. immigration laws have not changed, and that there are no new benefits for unaccompanied children or family units that try to enter the United States illegally.

“The fact of the matter is that that human smugglers will often tell lies to make people believe there are new benefits that will either allow them into the United States, or allow them to remain in the United States should they enter illegally,” Gonzalez said.  

She also clarified that deportation is the likely process that most migrants will face if they choose to enter the United States illegally, and that the United States government has, in fact, prioritized the deportation of migrants who have entered the country illegally after January 2014.

Ms. Gonzalez began her media tour by doing the one-hour interview show “Punto de Vista,” or Point of View, at El Salvador’s highest-rated radio station, YSKL 104.1 FM.  Gonzalez also visited the news magazine Buenos Dias of Radio Cadena Sonora, just down the dial at 104.5 FM. There she gave a 30-minute interview on the informative “Lo que ud debe sabe,” or “What you should know” program.  In addition to their traditional radio signal, the station also boasts a strong following on the internet, both in El Salvador and in the United States.

The trip also included several opportunities to address the El Salvadoran people via one-on-one television interviews, and Ms. Gonzalez also participated in a 15-minute segment of the daily morning program Viva la Mañana, which is comparable to a Good Morning America or Today Show type of program for El Salvadorans.

In addition to these successful radio and television appearances, Ms. Gonzalez hosted a print media roundtable, which included La Prensa Gráfica, El Diario de Hoy, Diario El Mundo, and Diario Co-Latino. Several print articles amplifying Ms. Gonzalez’s important message were published as a result of her targeted outreach.

Following the events in El Salvador, Gonzalez is continuing media outreach in Central America with similar events scheduled for major news outlets in Honduras and Guatemala.

Updated: