Immigration & the Border

Geraldo Rivera on The Hill to discuss the continued fallout for Donald Trump's campaign from the racist, hateful remarks at his recent Madison Square Garden Rally in NYC. Geraldo discusses when his patience finally ran out with former president Trump, and what the ramifications of those spiteful comments will be.

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October 27th, 1982. Geraldo Rivera for Eyewitness News brings us to Mexico where we learn that many trek to the United States for work, nine months out of the year.

"In this part of Mexico a day's work will bring them about $2..."

We learn about the realities of this town which lies 1,000 miles south of the United States. Continuing, Geraldo travels with a group of migrants heading north to cross the border, detailing the harrowing journey. Border Patrol ends up questioning the 20/20 news crew.

Also interviewed is a man trying to create conditions in Mexico that would remove the reasons for migration.

Some of the original audio has been replaced in this clip.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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Why do migrants take the risk of illegally crossing the border? As we discover, the root cause is poverty back home. This 1982 news clip has Geraldo Rivera on the ground at the border discussing the issue with a man who tries to help, and the irony of the migrants being arrested through a 'revolving door'. The solutions in use are not enough to tackle the enormity of the problem. Are the causes of illegal migration today, the same as the causes 40 years ago?

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1982. Geraldo Rivera's eye-opening report on migrants crossing the Mexico-Arizona border airs on 20/20 Eyewitness News. In this segment we see the actual processes used in crossing, with informative detail. Are these methods still in use today?

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1981. Geraldo Rivera for 20/20 Eyewitness News, with an extensive expose into the issues of sweatshops. We learn about the day-to-day of the 5,000 sweatshops in New York, 3,500 in Los Angeles, and thousands more across the country. Most workers are migrants who are in the country illegally, working for far below the minimum wage, frequently in very poor conditions. Examining the root causes of this phenomenon, are the big names in fashion and garment industry doing enough to improve the situation?

Sweatshops, by definition, are any factories that break labor laws. Unfortunately, in 2024 many of these types of places likely still exist, especially in cities like Los Angeles and New York where large pools of undocumented labor are available.

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July 15th, 1973. Geraldo Rivera interviews Cesar Chavez on the set of Good Night America.

With reports of violence between the United Farm Workers and the Teamsters, Geraldo and Cesar discuss the issues affecting migrant workers and potential solutions. What can be done?

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1989. In this exclusive stock footage we see a narrative video released by faith based group 'Migrant Care Ministries', covering the living conditions of migrant communities and aid given to them.

"You are about to accompany us, on one of our daily trips, one of our excursions to the migrant camps..."

We learn how the group provides food, clothing, bibles, counseling, and whatever the migrants need. They need to find clean ground to lay the items on because much of the ground at the migrant camps is covered in raw sewage. Two teenage migrants are watching up to 35 minor children as the adults work -- none of the children have shots, shoes, or money enough to be enrolled in school.

Migrant Care Ministries Inc was a husband and wife operation, supported by a network of volunteers from Baptist churches in Florida. The man narrating the video did most of the work.

This day, Geraldo's television history.

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1999, Latinos make up just over 5 million votes in the upcoming presidential election. We look at the issues that are important to Latino voters, like stopping military testing at Vieques in Puerto Rico. Presidential candidate at the time Bill Bradley weighs in, as well as then Senator John McCain. Both parties are eager for Latino votes, but can they emphasize the issues important to that community? We visit the Cuban community in Miami, and how Hispanic culture has changed even small heartland communities in Iowa. Opposing points of view are shown.

Military operations at Vieques stopped in 2001.

In 2024, around 36 million Hispanic voters are eligible, a far increase from just two short decades ago.

As Latinos continue to claim their part of the American melting part, how has the political attitude changed? Do the candidates today gear their platforms to modern issues affecting the Latino community?

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