“Advisement to the people of Guatemala,” a banner reads in Spanish as a stern female voice explains Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The actions, taken in November, provide deportation relief for immigrants already in the U.S., the voice explains. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has said that misinformation about deferred action causes migrants, especially those from Central America , to migrate to the U.S. expecting legal status. Immigration policy insiders say there’s no hard evidence as to what misinformation information, if any, drives residents of Central America to reach the U.S. (CBP representatives did not respond to our request for comment about such studies). However, the CBP is investing in radio, TV and print advertising to try and reduce unauthorized immigration.
“If you try to cross the border without documents, you will be prioritized for deportation. Anyone who tells you differently is tricking you. Please don’t believe them,” the woman’s voice continues.
It’s not the first time that immigration officials have mounted an immigration prevention campaign. In the summer of 2014 , the Obama administration sponsored a number of country-specific spots that were visually compelling with interesting storylines and special effects. One depicted the shadows of a young man and a coyote (aka human smuggler, aka pollero) against a wall, negotiating a trip northward. The coyote lies to the aspiring migrant, takes his money and morphs into an actual coyote. In another, a young man fantasizes about living in the U.S., but in the next shot you see him dead on desert, with blood oozing from his mouth.
Unlike past immigration-deterrent videos, these new spots are simple, don’t involve and filming or special effects, and communicate a simple message: There’s no amnesty for you, compadre. Called “Know The Facts,” the campaign has materials geared towards Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras.
“The campaign is designed to increase awareness of U.S. immigration policies and enhanced enforcement on the U.S. border, clearly and simply stating the facts behind U.S. immigration policies,” said the CBP in the same statement
It’s unclear how far the reach of the campaign is, and how much TV and radio time the agency will purchase. Below, you can see an example of one spot, prepared for television in Guatemala.
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