On the May 19th edition of Fox News Channel's Geraldo at Large, host Geraldo Rivera went on another pro-illegal immigrant rant. Commenting on the debate over the new immigration bill Rivera declared: "The deal beefs up border security, at the same time it allows millions here, illegally, to emerge from the shadows." Rivera then went on to spotlight the story of one illegal that was stuck in the "shadows."
The following is the full segment as reported by Geraldo and his brother and fellow Fox News reporter, Craig Rivera:
Geraldo Rivera: "So now up-front tonight the President praised senators of both parties for crafting a potential fix for the nation's broken immigration policies. The deal beefs up border security, at the same time it allows millions here, illegally, to emerge from the shadows. But whether Congress will pass the controversial bill into law is far from certain. Here's the President from his Texas ranch where he and the First Lady are spending the weekend."
[George W. Bush: "I thank the leaders in both parties who worked hard to produce legislation that will secure the border, restore respect for the law and meet the legitimate needs of our economy."]
Rivera: "The proposal is facing tough opposition from both sides. Conservatives criticizing it as amnesty for those breaking immigration laws. Liberals saying it's too harsh on migrant families. And the emotions are bubbling over, even in the Senate. Check out today's New York Post, I have it here in my hand, which has presidential hopeful John McCain, a supporter of the legislation, screaming, 'F' you!' at fellow Republican Senator John Cronyn, Cornyn rather, John Cornyn of Texas, saying Cornyn's opposition to the bill was 'chicken-shite.' To me the fact that both sides are in pain is evidence of a grand compromise, that if passed, will help bring order out of immigration chaos and sunshine into the shadowy lives of 12 million people, people like Pedro. You see them almost everywhere. Standing on street corners from L.A. to D.C. From the Midwest to the Hamptons, waiting for an opportunity to earn a day's wage no matter how menial or tough the task."
Pedro: "Whatever comes they take it, even just the worst or heavy job, in this country they take it, because they have a family and they got a, a wife in this country to, to support."
Rivera: "Brother Craig met this illegal, call him Pedro, who arrived in America six years ago from Guatemala. Pedro's difficult and dangerous journey took him here to Mount Kisco, a prosperous village about 40 miles north of New York City, where Pedro works to provide for his wife and four-month-old child, both citizens of the United States."
Pedro: "In the summertime there's a lot of American who come here, even guys, womens [sic] looking for people to work."
Craig Rivera: "A lot of people say, 'Well, you know, illegal workers, they're taking jobs away from us.'"
Pedro: "Americans, they don't want to go to break stones or rake the leaves for $8 or $10 an hour."
Geraldo Rivera: "But these are perilous times for people like Pedro. Government raids have increased fear of deportation."
Craig Rivera: "How do the police treat you? How do they act toward you?"
Pedro: "They pull over a guy, he didn't have a license but the thing that I didn't liking, is, is that where that person doesn't have a license they call more police. You, know, it's like somebody who, like a terrorist."
Geraldo Rivera: "To ease tension community groups like Neighbors Link have opened centers giving the men an alternative to standing on the street corner waiting for work."
Unidentified woman: "What the center tried to do is create an environment where the community could get to know the immigrant population and the immigrant population could get to know the culture in this country better."
