NIGHTLINE TOWN MEETING: THE ELIÁN GONZÁLEZ CASE (TV)
Summary
One in this series of nightly news programs. Hosted by Ted Koppel from Florida International University in Miami, Florida this program hosts a town hall-style meeting concerning the case of Elián González, a young immigrant caught between his relatives in Miami and his family in Cuba, and how this issue involves United States policy and foreign relations with Cuba.
Koppel hosts the meeting and is joined live via satellite by Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States; earlier that day Reno requested that González’s Miami relatives relinquish custody of the boy to his father Juan Miguel González in Cuba. Koppel interviews her, and Reno stresses that she wishes to conduct proceedings involving the legal battle surrounding González “promptly, fairly, and in an orderly way.” She denies claims that she and other White House officials have devised a plan to remove González by force if necessary. Koppel then turns to the audience to voice their own questions to Reno. One audience member asks about Reno’s steps to ensure that Mr. González has a means of freely voicing his opinion outside of the control of the Cuban government, and Reno assures him that Mr. González has not been accompanied by any Cuban government representatives during his appeal in Washington. Another question comes from Ninoska Pérez Castellón, spokesperson for the Cuban American National Foundation, who voices concerns about Reno’s apparent eagerness to turn away tens of thousands of Cubans from Guantanamo in a 1994 incident. Reno responds that she seeks a scenario in which the law can provide for migrants in a fair manner, asking for cooperation from the public in this regard. The next question comes from Leonie Hermantin, executive director of the Haitian American Foundation, who asks Reno to comment on discriminatory policies and attitudes against Haitian immigrants. Reno states that she and her staff work to correct any such “inequity.” Next, Kirk Régan Hernandez of the Cuban American National Foundation asks about whether González would have proper protection from exploitation by the Cuban government once back in Cuba. Reno expresses a desire to give González a “normal life” and dissatisfaction with the Cuban government in general. She believes the law supports Mr. González’s desire to be reunited with his son. However, she admits that she cannot guarantee that González will be totally safe once he is out of the country.
The next audience member asks whether González will be able to maintain relations with his family members both in Cuba and the United States, and Reno says she will leave the family to decide this issue amongst themselves. Next, Sylvia Iriondo, president of the human rights group Mothers Against Repression, asks why a family court was not utilized to determine an arrangement that would be in González’s best interests. Reno explains that this was supposed to happen before Mr. González publicly spoke out, giving him the right to speak for his son in that situation. Attorney Rafael Ribeiro accuses Reno of “rushing” the due process concerning González’s custody, particularly expressing concern about sending González to live in the “oppressive” Cuban regime. Reno responds that Mr. González must have precedence in this matter, and that she cannot condone courts using political beliefs as a means of determining custody of a child. Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, asks about United States policy regarding unaccompanied minors entering the country illegally. Reno notes that these incidents are highly situational, and that González’s case was greatly complicated by the death of his mother in transit from Cuba to Miami; she says that it is impossible to apply overarching policies to such individualized cases. Steven Forester of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti asks about Haitian-American children born in the United States and the mass deportation of their parents, seemingly contradiction legislation meant to prevent it. Reno simply responds that the Justice Department is doing all it can to act in accordance with the law.
Koppel presents a video package summarizing the case surrounding González over the past few months. He then introduces a panel of experts on the González issue, including: director of the Cuban Research Institute Lisandro Pérez, director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies Juan Carlos Espinosa, executive director of the Florida Immigration Advocacy Center Cheryl Little, University of Miami law professor Anthony Alfieri, and Connecticut Superior Court judge Charles Gill. The panelists take questions from the audience, accompanied by a number of experts and officials invited onto the program and seated in the audience’s front row. Florida resident Enrique Lopez points out the apparent contradiction in legal protections between González’s right to decide his own fate and legal protections he would be afforded in unrelated situations. The panel and Reno discuss the nature of the law concerning child testimonies and the legal and ethical ramifications as it pertains to González’s case. Miami resident George Kelly brings up news coverage of the Miami area during the González case and how in his view some hardline Cuban exiles are portrayed as representing the entire community. His question is addressed by Mark Seibel, assistant managing editor of the Miami Herald, and Miami-Dade County mayor Alex Penelas, who note the divisive attitudes of the community; Penelas says that locals are frustrated about the issue and that the polls confuse the issue at hand, which is about the extent of González’s appellate rights. Penelas gets into a discussion with Koppel about his comments regarding potential violence in the community and how he apparently places the blame for a potential outbreak on Reno. One man in the audience levels accusations against Reno and the Justice Department for their actions during the Waco siege of 1993, believing that she should be indicted. Reno replies that the Justice Department did the best they could given the information and resources they had available. The audience member continues to criticize Reno, but Koppel has his microphone turned off and asks him to stand down. Reno then makes a final statement and leaves the proceedings.
Little is given an opportunity to discuss the situation regarding Haitian refugees addressed earlier in the program, talking about disparities in legislation regarding immigrants from various countries residing in the United States for several years. She also talks about the legal issues regarding minors requesting political asylum in the United States. Geriatric psychiatrist Julio Luiz asks about González’s mental health, believing that the delay in the Justice Department’s actions may have negatively impacted it. The panel talks about Cuban-American reactions to the Justice Department and how both sides have reacted to each other’s actions. Child psychiatrist Dr. Jon Shaw and child psychologist Maria Fernandez offer their own views on the government’s assessment of González’s mental health. Another audience member addresses the issue of further illegal immigrants from Cuba and the broader context of relations between the United States and Cuba. Local Miami reporter Michael Putney talks about how the Miami community would react to the repeal of the embargo against Cuba and how González’s case has affected public perception on relations with Cuba. The panel talks about changing public perception about diplomatic relationships with Cuba and how it underscores the many lives lost among Cuban refugees.
Another audience member asks whether González’s case could be used as a precedent for reuniting other Cuban families separated between Cuba and the United States. The panel talks about how this could come about, and the Miami city mayor Joe Carollo weighs in as well. The discussion turns to the particulars of Mr. González’s trip to the United States and meeting with Reno and whether this was done wholly without the interference of the Cuban government. The next audience member introduces herself as an immigrant who came to the United States from Cuba as a child during the Cold War; she asks about the possibility of coming to a reconciliation amongst the entire González extended family. Linda Osberg-Braun, the attorney for González’s Miami relatives, addresses the issues surrounding such a negotiation and provisions in the law concerning the possibility of political asylum. The next question comes from Pedro Freyre, chairman of the nonprofit organization Facts About Cuban Exiles, who asks about what the ultimate fate of the concerned parties might be, and the panel expresses its views about how they hope the situation will turn out. The panel then makes final comments before the program ends. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 7, 2000 11:35 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:29:57
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:60339
- GENRE: News; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: TV - News; TV - Specials
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2000
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CREDITS
- Ted Koppel … Host
- Lisandro Pérez … Panelist
- Juan Carlos Espinosa … Panelist
- Cheryl Little … Panelist
- Anthony Alfieri … Panelist
- Charles Gill … Panelist
- Janet Reno … Guest
- Mark Seibel … Guest
- Alex Penelas … Guest
- Jon Shaw … Guest
- Maria Fernandez … Guest
- Michael Putney … Guest
- Joe Carollo … Guest
- Linda Osberg-Braun … Guest
- Ninoska Pérez Castellón
- Pedro Freyre
- Elián González
- Juan Miguel González
- Leonie Hermantin
- Kirk Régan Hernandez
- Sylvia Iriondo
- George Kelly (audio id only)
- Enrique Lopez (audio id only)
- Julio Luiz (audio id only)
- Adora Obi Nweze
- Rafael Ribeiro