Ruxandra Guidi
Ruxandra Guidi was the Fronteras reporter at KPBS, covering immigration, border issues and culture. She’s a journalist and producer with experience working in radio, print, and multimedia, and has reported from the Caribbean, South and Central America, as well as the U.S.-Mexico border region.
She’s a recipient of Johns Hopkins University’s International Reporting Project (IRP) Fellowship, which took her to Haiti for a project about development aid and human rights in 2008. That year, she was also a finalist for the Livingston Award for International Reporting, given to U.S. journalists under 35 years of age.
Previously, she did reporting and production work for the BBC public radio news program, The World. Her stories focused on Latin American politics, human rights, rural communities, immigration, popular culture and music. After earning a Master’s degree in journalism from U.C. Berkeley in 2002, she worked for independent radio producers The Kitchen Sisters. In 2003, she moved to Austin, TX, where she did production and reporting work for NPR’s weekly show, Latino USA.
Ruxandra has also produced features and documentaries for the BBC World Service in Spanish, National Public Radio, The Walrus Magazine, Guernica Magazine, Virginia Quarterly Review, World Vision Report, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Dispatches and Marketplace radio programs. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Ruxandra is now based in San Diego, California.
Recent Stories
Are Too Many California Kids Labeled English Language Learners?
Latino students are the largest minority group in the Southwest and the fastest-growing nationally. Federal data shows they consistently perform poorly on state tests and have lower graduation rates than whites. This is especially true for a growing population known as: "English Language Learners."
Criticism Of Immigration Enforcement Spurs New Measures
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been under fire for stepped up enforcement and rising deportations.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- January 2, 2012
Latinos Disapprove Of Obama's Handling Of Deportations
Latinos' views on immigration policy and the upcoming presidential election will have a big impact on President Obama's chances next year, according to the latest survey from the Pew Hispanic Center.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 28, 2011
California's English Language Learner Programs Criticized
As the English Language Learner population continues to grow in the state, many are calling for an overhaul of the school system.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 28, 2011
Growing Number Of Latino Youths In Juvenile Hall For Drug Offenses
A new report finds that the number of youths in juvenile hall in San Diego County is on the rise, and made up primarily of Hispanics.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 27, 2011
Young Doctor Is First Latino To Run For Congress In Coachella Valley
Dr. Raul Ruiz grew up in a trailer park in this poor district in Southern California’s interior. The son of Mexican farm workers, he studied medicine at Harvard and then returned to his community to focus on the health problems of a poor, Latino population.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 19, 2011
Despite More Drug Seizures & Arrests, Narcotics Still Flow Over Border
Drug seizures and related arrests at the border are on the rise. Customs and Border Protection claims this shows tighter border enforcement is working. But a leaked CBP memo concludes otherwise.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 16, 2011
Cab Driver Killings Highlight Need For Safety Measures
After two recent slayings, some taxi drivers - most of which are immigrants - are lobbying for equipment to make their jobs safer.
Cab drivers - mostly immigrants - are 60 times more likely to be killed on the job, more so than police officers. The system used to lease taxis makes it hard to implement safety improvements.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 12, 2011
Report: Millions Wasted In Constructing Border Fence
The DHS Inspector General said the $69 million "could have been put to better use." CBP officials defend the expenditure.
A new report from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General concluded that $69 million of taxpayers' money for border fence construction has been wasted.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 9, 2011
Is Immigration Enforcement A Local Issue?
A debate at the University of San Diego discussed the merits of having state and local police enforcing immigration laws.
Ever since Arizona's controversial SB 1070 became law, other states and cities have tried to copy it. But few have defied both state and federal laws like Escondido in enforcing immigration laws.
- By Ruxandra Guidi
- December 7, 2011
