06:26 PM EDT on Friday, April 7, 2006

By DIANA RUGG / 6NEWS
E-mail Diana: DRugg@wcnc.com

6NEWS

Charlotte's Radio Lider keeps Spanish speaking listeners informed about an immigration bill being passed around in Washington.

Friday, the U.S. Senate gave up on a proposed immigration bill without the compromise they thought they had Thursday.

Lawmakers said they will try to resurrect the bill after their holiday break, but many local immigrants living in Charlotte are speaking out concerned about what the bill and proposed changes mean for them.

Callers have been burning up the airwaves at Spanish-language radio stations in Charlotte worried about what the immigration bill could do for them and their future here in the United States.

Each morning this week, Jorge Medina fielded calls at Radio Lider from worried listeners about the immigration bill and about local protests that have formed because of it. 

"He's concerned because his son said someone told him Monday they get out of school and meet in downtown,” Medina said.

Medina said many of those listeners are not just fearful they may have to leave the country, but confused about the American political process by which the immigration debate becomes new laws.

Video on Demand

VIDEO: Watch this story

Build your own newscast

"We have different emotions. People who understand the system, how the system works, and others who don't know anything about it," Medina said.

The radio station is the link for many immigrants to news and events in the Hispanic community like the economic boycott planned for Monday.

Adriana Galvez Taylor is one of the boycott's coordinators. It will show, she says, what immigrants add to the community and what they'd like in return.

“We decided on a day of no consumption,” Taylor said. "Not an amnesty (we want) an earned path to residents and citizenship for the 12 million who are here."

And Charlotte's Hispanic community is talking and listening for an answer. The also want their voices heard, whatever the language.   

As the immigration bill winds its way through the Senate and as the boycott progresses on Monday, the radio station said they will take a big part in explaining what is happening to their listeners, and encouraging them to be a part of it.