Spanish-language news outlets combine forces to educate Arizona immigrants

Weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, a coalition of Latino-owned and led media outlets in Phoenix joined forces to keep immigrant communities of Arizona informed and educated.

The campaign, dubbed “Proyecto Progreso, Tus Derechos” — which translates to “Project Progress, Your Rights” — was launched in March in an effort to offer resources, tools and updates in Spanish to help immigrants and mixed-status families navigate an era that, for longtime Arizonans, brings back memories circa 2010, when SB 1070, Arizona’s harshest, enforceable immigration law to date, was enacted.

Raquel Terán, former Democratic member and minority leader of the Arizona Senate, took on the initiative alongside local non-profit Progress Now Arizona soon after Trump won the general election. Terán took a step back from public office, returning to her role as community organizer after she lost her U.S. Congressional bid to Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari during the state’s 2024 congressional primaries.

“Spanish-language media in Arizona have been at the frontline of this fight for years, covering the real impact that anti-immigrant and anti-Latino policies have on our communities,” Terán said in a statement.

From traditional outlets like local NBC affiliate 12 News en Español, La Onda 1190 AM and Prensa Arizona to innovative start-ups like Altavoz Lab and Conecta Arizona, which distributes its coverage directly through social media and WhatsApp, over a dozen Spanish-language outlets make up the coalition.

"Spanish-language media in Arizona are uniting once again to ensure our community has access to accurate and reliable information," said Laura Madrid, CEO of La Onda 1190 AM and 99.5 FM.

The “once again” refers to a similar initiative that took place in the early 2000s, when Maricopa County was a hunting ground for undocumented immigrants. In 2010, when SB 1070 was signed into law, a coalition of local media was also formed, aimed at keeping residents informed on immigration raids and offering know-your-rights workshops. 

While that same level of action from local law enforcement and immigration agents hasn’t been seen in Arizona this time around, the campaign aims to prevent civil rights violations, family separation and immigration fraud.

"With this campaign, which includes public service announcements on radio and digital media, social media content and a new website, we are taking a necessary step toward empowering our community with the information they need to exercise their rights and protect their families.”

The various outlets have collaborated on a series of educational videos, webinars and workshops, shared on social media and conducted in person, bringing in journalists with years of experience covering the immigration beat as well as law and civil rights professionals who offer advice and tips on how to prepare in the event of an immigration raid.

"When communities come together, there is real change. Arizona's Latino media have demonstrated their unity and powerful commitment to defending immigrant rights, amplifying the voices of our people, and ensuring justice is served," said María Barquín, programming director of Radio Campesina 101.5 FM.

Learn more about Proyecto Progreso, Tus Derechos here.