Author: Valeria Fernández

Bio: Valeria Fernández is an independent journalist from Uruguay with more than a 14 years experience as a bilingual documentary producer and reporter on Arizona’s immigrant community and the US-Mexico borderlands. She co-directed and produced "Two Americans,” a documentary that parallels the stories of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and a 9-year-old U.S. citizen whose parents were arrested by the sheriff’s deputies that aired in Al Jazeera America. Her work as reporter for the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting on the economic and social impacts of a mine spill in Northern Mexico broadcast in PBS, San Diego and won an Arizona Press Club recognition for environmental reporting in 2016. She freelances for a number of print, digital and broadcast media outlets, including Feet in 2 Worlds, CNN Español, Radio Bilingue, PRI's Global Nation, Al Jazeera, and Discovery Spanish.

Contributions:

Creating Sanctuary: LGBTQ Immigrants in Phoenix Push for Safe Spaces in a Hostile Environment

Posted on: 27 Jul 2017

Trans Queer Pueblo steers Arizona’s immigrant rights movement in a new direction

Hope and Pain – The Story of an Unaccompanied Minor

Posted on: 04 Aug 2014

Despite getting a second chance after arriving in the US, Darlin Adonay Peña faces an uncertain future.

Married to an American and Still Undocumented

Posted on: 28 Dec 2012

Some immigrants fail to gain green cards after marrying U.S. citizens. Fi2W contributor Valeria Fernández looks at a new rule that could fix this problem.

Undocumented Immigrants Plan Protests at the Democratic National Convention

Posted on: 04 Sep 2012

A busload of undocumented immigrants is in Charlotte, NC after making a cross-country trip from Arizona.

Podcast: After Supreme Court SB 1070 Ruling, What’s Next for Immigrants in Arizona?

Posted on: 16 Jul 2012

Many expect a more difficult environment for undocumented immigrants in Arizona under the surviving portion of SB 1070. The law has also sparked a new wave of political activism by immigrant advocates.

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on SB 1070

Posted on: 25 Apr 2012

Fi2W’s Valeria Fernandez was inside the courtroom as arguments were heard on the controversial Arizona law that has inspired anti-immigrant laws around the nation.

Immigration SB 1070 Author, Opponents Spar Ahead of Supreme Court Hearing

Posted on: 25 Apr 2012

In a preliminary hearing, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin turned the conversation on Capitol Hill to the DREAM Act, saying that Arizona’s SB 1070 targeted innocent young immigrants.

In Response to AZ Ban, Students in Tucson Hold Their Own Ethnic Studies Classes

Posted on: 31 Jan 2012

Since the Mexican American Studies program was shut-down in the Tucson Unified School District, students have walked out of class in protest and held their own teach-ins.

2011 Saw Gains for Arizona’s Pro-Immigrant Movement

Posted on: 29 Dec 2011

One year after SB 1070 made Arizona infamous for harsh anti-immigration policies, the law’s architects encountered a harsh backlash: State Senator Russell Pearce was recalled from office and Sheriff Joe Arpaio was slammed with a scathing report from the DOJ.

Could Arpaio’s Endorsement Hurt Perry?

Posted on: 30 Nov 2011

“America’s Toughest Sheriff” gave Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry his endorsement, but what’s it worth? Some in Arizona say it might be more beneficial for Arpaio than for Perry.