Local station WJLA channel 7 is continuing its “Project Immigration” this weekend with a one hour special Sunday evening (June 8th, 7:00 pm). The program will purportedly present an evenhanded overview of the effects of illegal immigration in the greater Washington DC area.

WJLA reporter Andrea McCarren visited Sterling in March to discuss the Honest Business Network (see that story here).

After watching that report, I think WJLA’s team is doing an objective and fair job of reporting on this problem in Northern Virginia. I encourage everyone to watch the program on Sunday. The WJLA press release on Sunday’s program is below the fold.

PROJECT IMMIGRATION: MELTING POT MELTDOWN
An In-Depth Look at All Sides of the Immigration Debate

On Sunday, June 8th at 7:00 PM, ABC 7/WJLA-TV News Anchor Leon Harris and Special Projects Reporter Andrea McCarren will host a one-hour special on immigration and its profound impact on the Washington area. The show provides a rare look at the personal stories of illegal immigrants and those who oppose them. “This special reflects WJLA’s ongoing commitment to covering the contentious topic of Immigration,” said Bill Lord, WJLA-TV’s VP of News. “It has become one of the most difficult and divisive issues facing our local governments today.”

Harris, McCarren and Photographer Dave Webb recently traveled to Central America to show viewers where the pursuit of the American dream often begins. The team also documents the pipeline of money earned in the U.S. and sent to countries like El Salvador. Additionally, the ABC 7 news team reports on how immigration affects our schools, healthcare facilities and law enforcement. Beth Mausteller is the Executive Producer of the special. Michael Wright is the editor.

“The United States is being invaded,” the executive director of the Maryland Minutemen tells ABC 7. “And if we don’t do something about it, we’re going to lose our country.” In contrast, a day laborer who came to this country illegally told our crew, “We come to the United States looking for a dignified job… and I think that is not a crime.”

ABC 7/WJLA-TV is a division of Allbritton Communications Company, which owns and operates eight television stations in seven broadcast markets, including Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC. Allbritton Communications also owns and operates NewsChannel 8, Washington’s 24-hour local cable news channel, as well as the political newspaper and website POLITICO and POLITICO.com.