This week on Fronteras:
· Texas cattle ranchers are closely watching President Trump’s actions on NAFTA.
· The mayor of Santa Fe pledges to keep his city immigrant friendly.
· The wait to become a U.S. citizen can take a very long time for some, not others.
· Many entertainers have taken a stage name but not Texas comedian Aaron Aryanpur, whose father migrated from Iran.
· House On Mango Street returns to Classic Theater
Texas Cattle Ranchers Eyeing NAFTA Changes
Texas cattle ranchers are keeping their eyes on President Trump’s plans for NAFTA.
On the campaign trail, then candidate Trump called the North American Free Trade Agreement – a disaster and promised to pull out of it unless Mexico agreed to revisions in America's favor. But now President Trump appears to be taking a more cautious approach. Mexican officials say their country will retaliate against any new trade restrictions. U.S. beef exports to our southern neighbor skyrocketed when NAFTA phased out tariffs. Cattle industry representatives warn reopening the treaty would put those gains in jeopardy. But as Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports, some longtime ranchers caught in the middle are optimistic because the president is a businessman.
Santa Fe Mayor Keeps City Immigrant Friendly
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he will withhold federal grants to cities that don’t follow federal rules on immigration enforcement. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales is an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration’s stance on immigration. He told KUNM’s Ed Williams he won’t be changing the city’s openly immigrant-friendly policy.
Some Have Long Wait Times For U.S. Citizenship
Waiting in line for a chance to become a U.S. citizen is a lot easier said than done. Immigration experts say for some, there is no line. But for others, the wait could outlast a lifetime, as long as 160 years. KUT’s Joy Diaz explains.
Iranian-American Comedian Proud Of His Name
Comic Aaron Aryanpur has toured, been on TV and become a mainstay in the Texas comedy scene. He was voted best comic in Texas in 2012 and recently headlined the Dallas Comedy Festival. The son of an Iranian immigrant, Aryanpur made a point of keeping his last name professionally. He says his inspiration for comedy came from seeing George Carlin and Garry Shandling on stage. That stage is where Aaron wanted to be and where KERA’s Jerome Weeks caught up with him.
Staging House On Mango Street
A popular coming of age story, House on Mango Street, makes its way back to San Antonio’s Classic Theater this weekend and next. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan has details.
