An ally against Mexico's terror

   A recent editorial in the Austin American Statesman, "An ally against Mexico's terror", discusses why the “U.S. immigration authorities granted political asylum to Mexican journalist Jorge Luis Aguirre” through giving him citizenship. The U.S. immigration authorities granted him asylum in order to protect him from the drug cartels. The drug cartels have been targeting and killing journalists in Mexico for several years now in their efforts to silence and control the free press. The U.S. immigration authorities feel that granting journalists asylum here is important because, as stated by the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, “A free press is essential to an empowered citizenry, government accountability and responsible economic development. Wherever independent media are under threat, accountable governance and human freedom are undermined”.
    Both the printed newspaper, and the internet do not mention a single author for the editorial “An Ally Against Mexico’s Terror”, but rather just the ‘Editorial Board’. The two people on the Editorial Board, Alberta Phillips and Ken Herman, have both been employed by the Statesman for many years, so they hold credibility in their years of experience as editorial authors.
    The author’s intended audience in this editorial are those who are interested in immigration, and those that oppose immigration. The editorial includes a description of the events that took place concerning the U.S. granting journalists asylum, which shows that the article is intended for those interested in the current events on immigration. The article also shows that it is geared for those who oppose immigration when it tries to persuade the audience that the U.S. granting journalists asylum is a good thing.
    The author’s main argument in the editorial is in favor of the U.S. government granting Mexico’s endangered journalists asylum here. Their argument is evident throughout the editorial because of its overall positive tone. The main feelings of the author are most apparent at the end of the editorial when he states that it is good that America is being “proactive about the fact that Mexico is in grave danger and that when the press -- one of the most basic safeguards against tyranny -- is under attack, we’ll be willing to extend our hand”. The author feels that this protection of their press will help protect their country from further corruption.