>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE WITH THE LATEST ON VACCINATION NUMBERS, VARIANTS AND MORE INVOLVING COVID-19.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, AN UPDATE ON THE COVID-MITIGATION FEUD BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW PEOPLE ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BECOME FAKE FAMOUS.

THAT'S ALL IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WE START TONIGHT WITH A SPORTS STORY.

SEAN MILLER IS OUT AS HEAD COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

THE U OF A DECIDED TO, QUOTE, PART WAYS WITH MILLER THIS MORNING AFTER THE TWO SIDES REPORTEDLY COULDN'T AGREE ON MILLER'S FUTURE WITH THE SCHOOL.

MILLER WAS UOF A'S SECOND-MOST SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL COACH BEHIND LUTE OLSON, BUT HIS CAREER HAS BEEN MARRED.

>>> ARIZONA PASSED ANOTHER SOBERING MILESTONE TODAY AS THE STATE HIT THE 17,000 MARK FOR COVID-RELATED FATALITIES.

THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE RANKS 29TH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE 7-DAY RATE OF NEW CASES STILL RANKS AMONG THE BEST.

>>> THE CDC REPORTED TODAY THE B113 VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS NOW THE MOST COMMONLY SPREAD VERSION IN THE U.S., AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IT IS HITTING KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ESPECIALLY HARD.

>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE HEARING REPORTS OF CLUSTERS OF CASES ASSOCIATED WITH DAY CARE CENTERS AND YOUTH SPORTS.

HOSPITALS ARE SEEING YOUNGER ADULTS ADMITTED WITH SEVERE DISEASE.

THIS IS ALL HAPPENING AS WE ARE SEEING INCREASING VARIANTS WITH 52 JURISDICTIONS NOW REPORTING CASES OF VARIANTS OF CONCERN.

>> THERE IS A CONCERNING NEW STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT SURVIVORS OF COVID-19 APPEAR TO BE AT INCREASED RISK OF ANXIETY AND MOOD DISORDERS.

A THIRD WERE DIAGNOSED WITH A PSYCHOLOGICAL OR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF INFECTION.

WE MOST COMMON WAS ANXIETY.

>>> A USE OF FORCE EXPERT TESTIFIED TODAY IN THE DEREK CHAUVIN MURDER TRIAL OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> MR. FLOYD WAS NOT RESISTING.

HE WAS IN THE PRONE POSITION.

HE WAS HANDCUFFED.

HE WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO EVADE.

HE WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO RESIST, AND THE PRESSURE THAT HE WAS -- THAT WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE BODY WEIGHT, WOULD -- TO CAUSE AFTER FIX SEE YA, WHICH COULD CAUSE DEATH.

>> THE WITNESS ADDED THAT POLICE TRAINING CALLS FOR SOMEONE UNDER RESTRAINT TO BE REWARDED BY A REDUCTION OF PAIN WHEN COMPLYING.

>>> AND THE CAR CRASH THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED TIGER WOODS LAST MONTH WAS CAUSED BY SPEED 40 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND INABILITY TO NAVIGATE A CURVE.

>> THE PRIMARIAL CAUSAL FACTOR WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS.

ESTIMATED SPEED AT THE FIRST AREA OF IMPACT WERE 84 TO 87 MILES PER HOUR, AND THE FINAL ESTIMATED SPEED WAS 75 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE WERE NO CITATIONS ISSUED, AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT.

>> THE REPORT ALSO SHOWED NO SIGN OF BRAKING DURING THE COLLISION INDICATING THAT HE WAS PROBABLY PROBABLY INADVERT WANTLY HITTING THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE CRASH.

>>> IS ANOTHER COVID SURGE HEADED OUR WAY.

WE ASKED FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR WILL HUMBLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

WILL HUMBLE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THOUGHTS.

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS TELLING YOU?

>> WELL, I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE BY THE WEBSITE.

THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD METRICS, AND I JUST REVIEWED THAT.

THEY LOOK REALLY PRETTY FLAT.

CASES ARE INCREASING, BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE HOSPITALS ARE IN FINE SHAPE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE ELECTIVE PROCEDURES THAT THEY NEED TO.

AND POSITIVITY HAS ALSO BEEN STABLE.

SO ALL IN ALL NOTHING ALARMING HERE IN THE DATA, AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS THE PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING AS GOOD AS WE CAN WITH ALL POPULATIONS.

>> INDEED.

THESE VARIANTS, SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE GETTING HIT REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT ARIZONA?

>> IN ARIZONA THE DOMINANT STRAIN THE CALIFORNIA STRAIN.

MOST OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, THE DOMINANT STRAIN IS THE U.K. STRAIN.

WE HAD THAT CALIFORNIA STRAIN CIRCULATING HERE IN ARIZONA, AS WE WERE RAMPING UP OUR VACCINATION VACCINATION EFFORTS AND ON THE EAST COAST, THAT VARIANT GOT A TOEHOLD BEFORE THEY STARTED RAMPING UP VACCINATION RATES.

SO THEY ARE WORSE OFF THAN WE ARE, BECAUSE THEY GOT THAT VARIANT A LOT EARLIER THAN WE DID HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> AND THAT ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THESE VACCINATIONS ARE WORKING.

WE'RE FINDING OUT MORE AND MORE ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE WORKING.

>> OH, THEY ARE DEFINITELY WORKING.

THE CLINICAL TRIALS SAID THEY WERE WORKING.

THE FOLLOW-UP STUDIES HAVE BEEN SHOWING THEY ARE WORKING, AND THE REAL LIFE DATA IS SHOWING THEY ARE WORKING.

>> YEAH, AND AS FAR AS ARIZONA IS CONCERNED, WE OPENED UP ANOTHER STATE-RUN VACCINATION SITE.

THIS ONE IN SCOTTSDALE.

>> AND THE, THEY ARE OPENING UP A NEW FACILITY IN NORTH SCOTTSDALE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM START FOCUSING ENERGY AND ATTENTION MORE IN THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS LIKE SOUTH PHOENIX, THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

SO FAR THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING THE MESSAGE, AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON THESE MASS SITES WITH PRIMARILY WEALTHY PEOPLE.

THAT SAID, THE COUNTY IS DOING A GREAT JOB, FOCUSING ON POP-UP EVENTS, MOBILE EVENTS.

THERE IS ONE FOR SPECIALS NEEDS PEOPLE THIS WEEKEND SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER, SO THE COMMUNITY-BASED VACCINATION SITES ARE STARTING TO RAMP UP.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE VACCINES BEING ALLOCATED TOWARDS THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

>> WITH SO MANY PEOPLE BEING VACCINATED, IF YOU HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, FULLY, OKAY?

BOTH DOSES, WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW THAT YOU COULDN'T DO BEFORE?

WHAT DO YOU STILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT?

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE TOLD MY PARENTS.

THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF TIME SINCE THEIR SECOND SHOT, AND I SAID YOU NEED GO BACK TO THE YMCA, AND BACK TO YOUR CHURCH, AND BOOK CLUBS.

NOW BE SURE TO WEAR A MASK, BUT IT OPENS UP A LOT OF FREEDOM ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE MOST RISK DURING THIS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS.

IT ALSO BUYS YOU FREEDOM.

DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, BUT IT REALLY OPENS UP YOUR WORLD.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO GET THE VACCINE IF YOU HAVEN'T YET.

>> AND YET WHAT PART OF YOUR WORLD STILL NEEDS TO BE CLOSED OR NOT FULLY OPEN?

>> IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND YOU ARE AROUND HIGH-RISK PEOPLE, YOUNGER PERSONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED, THEN BE CAREFUL.

STILL WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU ARE IN DOORS, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO OVERRESTRICT PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT RIGHT, AND IT IS NOT NEEDED.

ONCE YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT YOU COULDN'T BEFORE.

YOU STILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK, UNTIL EVERYBODY DROPS THE MASK, AND WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GETTING THERE FASTER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE.

>> WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL?

IF YOU ARE PARTIALLY VACCINATED, CAN YOU START TIPTOEING ON A PLANE HERE?

>> I WOULD WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED TO GET BACK ON A JET LINER.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT TO DO, GO SEE LOVED ONES.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, IN THE SENSE THAT THE DEVELOPING WORLD REALLY IS JUST BARELY GETTING STARTED WITH VACCINATION EFFORTS.

WE HAVE VACCINATED MORE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF MEXICO AT THIS POINT.

SO JUST RECOGNIZE IF THE PLACES ARE LARGELY UNVACCINATED, EVEN EUROPE IS WAY BEHIND US.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAYS AND IS EMPHASIZING, THAT WE ARE NOT AT THE FINISH LINE YET, SO CELEBRATE, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.

IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> YEAH, WE CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE.

IT IS NOT THERE.

IT HAS BEEN A MARATHON, AND WE'RE IN THE 25TH MILE.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG SLOG.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

THE VACCINES ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE ROLLING OUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM GET MORE INTO THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, WILL HUMBLE, THANK YOU, SIR.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT ONE ORGANIZATION IS DOING TO COMBAT CHILD ABUSE.

>>> APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH, AND TODAY IS CHILD HELP'S NATIONAL DAY OF HOPE.

CHILD ABUSE REPORTS HAVE DECREASED OVER THE PAST YEAR, BUT THE PANDEMIC MAY BE SKEWING THOSE NUMBERS.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THIS WITH KRISTEN DOUGLAS OF CHILD-HELP.

KRISTEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CHILDHOOD NATIONAL DAY OF HOPE ON THIS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

>> THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL IS THE FIRST DAY OF NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH, AND DAY OF HOPE HAS OUR ADVOCATES, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF MEMBERS, MEET WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LOCAL LEGISLATURES, ANY POLICY MAKERS, REALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF CHILD WELFARE, THE FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED, AND THE PROGRAMS THAT CHILD HELP AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OURSELVES ARE DOING.

>> THERE IS A QUOTE ON YOUR WEBSITE, I WANT TO GET AN EXPLANATION.

WE STANDING AT A JUNCTION WHERE IMPACTFUL LEGISLATION AND PROGRAMS EXIST, BUT ARE NOT EMPOWERED BY NECESSARY LEVELS OF FUNDING.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

THERE IS LOTS OF GREAT LEGISLATION OUT THERE.

THERE IS THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT WHICH TAKES FUNDING FROM COURT CASES OF CRIMINALS AND HELP CARE FOR VICTIMS.

THERE IS THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TREATMENT ACT WHICH FUNDS WELFARE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION.

THEY EXIST AND HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FUNDED.

SO IT'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY FROM A GOVERNMENT RELATION'S STANDPOINT.

BUT IT ALL EXISTS, BUT THE CAN KEEPS GETTING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD OF GETTING THESE THINGS FUNDED.

>> AND, AGAIN, THIS IS HAPPENING NOW AT A TIME -- I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE WE MENTIONED THIS IN THE PAST.

REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE ARE ACTUALLY DOWN, BUT THAT IS NOT A CLEAR PICTURE HERE, BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HAS MESSED WITH EVERYTHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THIS.

THE HOT LINES THAT ARE DOWN RIGHT NOW ARE STATE HOT LINES THAT MANDATED RECORDERS RECORD.

HOWEVER, THOSE ARE DOWN NOW.

OUR NUMBERS ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO WHILE OTHER -- OTHER HOT LINES ARE DROPPING ABOUT 60%, WE'RE UP IN THE 40 TO 50% VOLUME OF KIDS, PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY REACHING OUT TO HELP, AND NOT ARE OUR NUMBERS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, BUT THE CASES ARE MORE COMPLICATED, MORE TRAUMATIC, AND TAKING OUR COUNSELORS TO PLACES AND SITUATIONS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> I IMAGINE THOSE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE ONCE THESE KIDS GET BACK TO SCHOOL, AND THOSE FIRST ON -- OBSERVERS WHO SEE IT ON THE FRONT LINE, GET BACK IN BUSINESS AS WELL.

>> YES, WHEN KIDS ARE GETTING BACK, AND REPORTS OF ABUSE THAT HAS GONE UNSEEN FOR A YEAR NOW, THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO SPIKE AND THE CASES ARE GOING TO RISE, AND THE SERVICES ARE GOING TO HAVE A WAIT LINE, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH ARIZONA SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS ASKING THEM TO PLEASE WORK ON GETTING THE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOT LINE FUNDED AT $2 MILLION A YEAR ANNUALLY, SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEED THAT WE KNOW IS ALREADY THERE PRIOR TO COVID, BUT DEFINITELY IS THROUGH THE ROOF NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE, AND AT THIS POINT IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> FOR THOSE WATCHING THAT WOULD LIKE TO HELP IN SOME WAY, OBVIOUS TLI THERE ARE FINANCIAL DONATIONS.

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO BE A FACTOR IN COMBATTING CHILD ABUSE?

>> THE OLD ADAGE, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

IF YOU GET THAT GUT FEELING, PLEASE CALL OUR HOT LINE.

WE'RE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR YOU, LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I CALLED WHEN I SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

THEY ARE THERE TO CONNECT YOU TO RESOURCES.

ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO HELP IS WE HAVE BOOKMARKS THAT GET RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF KIDS, SO THEY CAN TEXT OR CHAT OR CALL WHEN THEY NEED HELP, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE THERE FOR, THAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR KIDS THAT NEED HELP.

IS IT GIVING ADVICE OR IS IT A DIRE SITUATION WHERE THAT KID NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED THROUGH SERVICES RIGHT AWAY.

SPEAK UP AND SAY SOMETHING, AND UTILIZE OUR HOT LINE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.

>> ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR KIDS AND CHILD -- JUST THE WHOLE SCENARIO?

DO YOU FEEL UP ABOUT IT?

>> I AM OPTIMISTIC, ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF SUCH A GREAT DAY TODAY, NATIONAL DAY OF HOPE.

NOT ONE OF THE LAWMAKERS WE MET WITH HAD CONCERNS OF FUNDING.

WHAT CONCERNS ME IS IT'S VERY EASY TO SLIP AWAY IN ALL OF THE OTHER BIG-PICTURE ITEMS THAT THE COUNTRY IS FACING NOW.

SO CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATURES AND LET THEM KNOW THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A VOTER, A CONSTITUENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY >> KRISTEN DOUGLAS OF CHILD-HELP, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>>> THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION OVER A RECENT BILL SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR THAT RECOGNIZES MEXICO'S CONSUL ARREGISTRATION CARD AS A VALID ID IN ARIZONA.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO IN PHOENIX, JORGE MENDOZA YESCAS FOR MORE ON THIS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANT TO START FIRST WITH A MATTER THAT HAS BEEN OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO YOU AND THE CONSULATE, AND THAT IS THE DECISION BY THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE TO ACCEPT AS LEGITIMATE IDENTIFICATION CONSULAR ID'S.

FIRST TALK ABOUT THE SECURITY FEATURES THAT HAVE BEEN EMPHASIZED AS WHY THIS IS TRUST-WORTHY IDENTIFICATION.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT, JOSE.

WE REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS BANNED FOR USE IN THE STATE TEN YEARS AGO.

THE REASON THAT THEY EXPRESSED IN ORDER TO DO SO, IS IT WAS INSECURE.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

IT CONTAINS SEVERAL SECRETIVE FEATURES THAT ARE ACTUALLY STANDARDIZED BY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND I CAN TELL YOU ALSO THAT IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE DRIVER'S LICENSE, IT HAS EVEN MORE SECURITY FEATURES.

WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH MORE THAN 28, 29 POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN ARIZONA, AND ALL OF THEM AGREE WITH US, AND THEY TOLD US THAT IT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TOOL FOR IDENTIFIES INDIVIDUALS EVEN IF THEY ARE CRIMINALS, SO WE THINK IT'S A GOOD THING FOR PUP LICK SAFETY, AND A GOOD THING FOR THE MEXICAN POPULATION.

>> AND THE POPULATION YOU ARE REFERRING TO, ARE THESE MEXICAN NATIONALS LIVING IN ARIZONA, OR DOES IT EXTEND BEYOND THAT TO PEOPLE OF MEXICAN DISCENT.

>> WE HAVE FIVE CONSULATES IN ARIZONA.

THE MAIN ONE IS PHOENIX, WHICH ALL CENTRAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES.

SO ANY PERSON WHO HOLDS MEXICAN IDENTITY CAN BE RECOMMENDSTERRED WITH OUR CONSULATE IF THEY LIVE IN THOSE COUNTIES, SO [ INAUDIBLE ] ON CONSULARREGISTRATION, AND THEN THIS CERTIFICATION COMES IN THE FORM OF AN ID.

SO THAT IS THE CONSULATE ID.

THAT CAN BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT, A DACA RECIPIENT, OR PERSON WITH NO STATUS.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

IS THAT PERSON THAT HAS MEXICAN DECENT, HE OR SHE IS ABLE TO APPLY FOR AN ID AS WELL.

>> WHAT OTHER BENEFITS MIGHT THERE BE?

AS I UNDERSTAND, ONE OF THEM IS IT'S EASIER TO CROSS THE BORDER.

WHAT OTHER REASONS WOULD MEXICAN NATIONALS HAVE TO GET THE ID BEYOND THAT AND THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE AS YOU MENTIONED.

>> YES, I'M TOLD IT CAN BE USED EVEN TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO MEXICO, AND MEXICO UNDER THE MEXICAN LAW, IT HAS A HIGH STANDARD, OR HIGH VALUE.

IT IS ALSO PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF MEXICANS WHO GO TO THE BORDER, AND THEY CAN USE IT -- LIKE IF IT WAS A PASSPORT CARD, SO THEY CAN SHOW IT TO THE OFFICER ON THE BORDER AND THEN THEY CAN GO INTO MEXICO.

BUT ALSO THEY CAN MAKE A TRANSACTION IN MEXICO.

THEY CAN OPEN ACCOUNTS, THEY CAN INTERACT WITH AUTHORITIES USING THAT CARD, BUT ALSO HERE IN ARIZONA, IT'S ACCEPTED BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

IT WAS ACCEPTED EVEN BEFORE THIS LAW WAS PASSED AND SIGNED THIS MONTH.

>> SO A LOT OF BENEFITS.

LET ME SWITCH NOW.

PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND PRESIDENT LOPEZ HAD A DISCUSSION AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND TODAY.

THEY ARE MEETING IN MEXICO CITY TO DISCUSSION MIGRATION, AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND ABOUT THE ISSUES ON THE BORDER, PARTICULARLY DEALING WITH UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THEY HAD THIS MEETING ON MARCH 1ST.

AND I THINK THEY AGREED IN A -- IN A VERY IMPORTANT [ INAUDIBLE ] ABOUT IMMIGRATION, AND IT'S ABOUT TALKING ON THE CROSSING THE ROADS OF IMMIGRATION.

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE TO MIGRATE TO THE STATES OR NORTHERN COUNTRIES?

AND IT IS POVERTY, AND THEY ARE ALSO SUBJECTS OF VIOLENCE, AND I THINK THEY ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE PLANNING, LIKE, REALLY GREAT STRATEGY TO WORK WITH THOSE COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA WHO ARE [ INAUDIBLE ] THESE MIGRANTS.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE MAIN POINT IN WHICH THEY ARE FOCUSING RIGHT NOW.

>> CONSUL GENERAL OF MEXICO IN PHOENIX, JORGE MENDOZA YESCAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TO TALK TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE PLEASURE IS OURS.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEW ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS VOTER SUPPRESSION OR ELECTION INTEGRITY, DEBATE OVER SEVERAL BILLS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWING A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ORGANICALLY, AND GROWING IT FOR FAME.