In the News

Recently, Univision News Anchor Jorge Ramos and his crew were forcibly detained by the government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela after Ramos asked tough, probing questions. This display puts both international and domestic press freedoms in the spotlight in addition to highlighting human rights abuses in Venezuela.  It also reminds us what happens when nations do not have legal protections such as the U.S. has in its Constitution in place to assure the pursuit of truth and our citizens’ right to express themselves freely and fairly. As Ramos himself said in the days following the detention, if foreign journalists are treated in such a manner, one can only imagine the treatment of Venezuelan journalists.

At Univision, freedom of the press and expression are sacrosanct. That’s why in addition to our award-winning news coverage, we work to help many in Hispanic America civically participate through our community initiatives which maximize engagement. For many of our viewers, the issue of Venezuela and human rights abuses hits home and touches a personal nerve.

In Washington, many elected officials in Congress are also taking a stand for their Venezuelan constituents and in defense of the larger issues of freedom in the hemisphere. Leading the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Eliot Engel has ensured the House hears the truth about lack of freedom in Venezuela by conducting a hearing on the Maduro government’s actions. Similarly, Ranking Member Michael McCaul has publicly supported those who wish to return democracy to Venezuela. Important efforts have been undertaken by Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott in addition to South Florida Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, Donna Shalala, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.  Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, has also joined efforts to restrict arms sales to Maduro.

Other efforts have been undertaken to help safeguard Venezuelans in the United States such as the push for Temporary Protected Status by Florida Representatives Darren Soto, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Mario Diaz-Balart, Alcee Hastings, Donna Shalala, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, New Jersey Representative Albio Sires, and more colleagues. This initiative was led in the Senate last year by Senators Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, and Dick Durbin.

No matter the nobility of these efforts to combat those who abuse basic human rights or to protect the Venezuelan people, the sad fact remains that these efforts are undertaken because the Venezuelan government has eroded the foundations of its country. No person should be censored, detained, imprisoned or subject to sanction because of his or her otherwise reasonable comments and criticisms of those in power. To paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Brandeis, sunlight is the best disinfectant. In this case, that bright light comes from the front of our and other journalists’ cameras.