By: Itzel Chavero
As seen in local channel 66, Univision Chicago’s Enrique Rodriguez opens his studio and heart. The lead Univision anchor opens about his rise in journalism while being a migrant in the United States and the passion that drove him to be in journalism.
The lead anchor, born in Uruapan, Mexico in the state of Michoacan grew up most of his life on the other side of the border. It wasn’t until he was 13 years old when his father decided to move their family to the United States, and he had to stay behind to finish his school.
After staying home in Mexico his mother would later convince Enrique to move with them in the United States. In the hopes of meeting his family Enrique took many attempts at crossing the border until finally he succeeded and arrived at California.
He grew up in Hollywood, CA and wasted no time in finishing his studies and enrolling in California State University, Northridge which was the only university that accepted him while being undocumented.
After completing his freshmen year, Enrique’s future journalism career would be placed on hold after a state law, the California Proposition 187 would deny undocumented students to enroll in four-year universities. This eventually leading to Enrique getting kicked out his sophomore year.
“Once I tried to enroll for my sophomore year they asked for a green card and since I didn’t have one, they kicked me out,” he said. “I lasted seven years without being able to return until finally I did once my immigration status was advanced, but it wasn’t as easy.”
At this time Enrique was working as a waiter to support his wife and young son. Still, struggling to make ends meet he decided to go in the university again but because of his status and lack of financial aid he could only afford one course at the time.
It wasn’t until 2003, after six years of school when he finally completed his journalism deegree, just one week before his graduation he finally received what he longed for so many years, his green card.
His passion and interest for journalism sparked ever since he was a young boy.
“My dream has always been to become a journalist,” he said. “I grew up watching Univision in Los Angeles and I remember saying, one day I want to work with Univision.”
It wasn’t until one day working at his restaurant job, he was able to meet a news channel director from LA and scored his first internship on his last year of college. By this time, Enrique was already 28 years old.
“When I started my internship, I was 28 years old when normally at 23 years old you begin one, so I had started very late in my career,” he said. “Being undocumented was a challenge as it delayed my career.”
His career now as a journalist working in one of the main Spanish speaking channels in the country. Rodriguez says, he would describe his daily life at the Chicago studio as a “dream” made possible by beating all odds.
“Being here has been my dream since I was a young boy it took a lot for me to make this possible” he said. “Being undocumented was my biggest obstacle, that is why with everything going on, it takes a lot for me to cover a story, because they touch my heart, but I must be objective.”
With the ongoing ICE kidnappings happening in Chicago under “Operation Midway Blitz” targeting majority undocumented people with no criminal background with raids around the city. Rodriguez empathizes with the stories of people whose shoes he was in and now prioritizes making those stories known.
“As journalists we shouldn’t fear being vulnerable on air especially since that’s what part of characterizes us as Latinos, “he said. “So, I feel the story and am not embarrassed of showing people that a story affects me because I’m an immigrant.”
While Rodriguez recognizes his empathy towards some of the stories, he covers he is also aware of the responsibilities that come with also reporting a story nonpartisan with facts and telling things “How they are.”
That is why as words of advice to young journalists he encourages them to be empathetic but also make sure to remember why it matters and who it affects.
He highlights the importance of storytelling and how significant it is in situations like this with communities being attacked.
“We need to show the resiliency of our people, how they’re not settling for less,” he said. “We need to highlight that as opposed to victimizing our people, which is something that you’re going to see, unfortunately, in some other media outlets.”
Enrique Rodriguez will be visiting Dominican at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the Parmer Atrium to deliver the Georgie Anne Geyer Lecture.
Tickets are free for students and available at: https://www.dom.edu/arts-minds/university-events/georgie-anne-geyer-initiative
