Isis Romero represents San Antonio, Latinos at White House delegation

Longtime San Antonio TV journalist Isis Romero has proven that she’s a force in the news scene beyond the Alamo City. The KENS 5 evening news anchor visited the nation’s capital earlier this week, representing the culture in a major way.

Romero shared news of her visit to the White House on Wednesday, February 22, via Facebook. In sharing a selfie in front of President Joe Biden’s home, she announced that her trip was due to taking part in a delegation with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, better known as NAHJ. Romero tells MySA the association reached out to her last month to be part of the special event.

“San Antonio and our surrounding communities have been at the epicenter of so many national news stories — so having someone represent this region of the country was important,” says the South Texas native. “Most of the journalists who attended work for national news outlets or are based in Washington D.C., so it was wonderful being able to join them and ask questions specific to our community.”

Romero, who joined KENS 5 in 2022, says it’s important the news industry in San Antonio reflect the local community. While Latino journalists are more common in San Antonio, she points out this isn’t the case in newsrooms across the U.S. 

Members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists posed during their delegation in Washington D.C.

Courtesy of Isis Romero

“We, as Latinos, want our stories told [nationally],” Romero says. “We’re doing the work to ensure this happens for future generations. To be able to go to the White House alongside others who share in this belief is a blessing and privilege.”

During the National Association of Hispanic Journalists delegation, Isis Romero asked about anti-smuggling initiatives.

Courtesy of Isis Romero

During the delegation, Romero asked a question about Biden’s anti-smuggling initiative, a topic that mattered to many of the NAHJ members.

“It seemed appropriate that I would ask about some of the recent smuggling cases San Antonio has experienced,” Romero says, noting that “the worst case of human smuggling in U.S. history” occurred in San Antonio when 53 people died after being left in the back of a semi-truck in June 2022.

The Biden administration launched an anti-smuggling campaign following the tragedy, but Romero says she was curious about the other ways anti-smuggling is being addressed by national leaders.

Though she was proud to bring a spotlight on a key issue that’s important to San Antonio and the country at large, she says her time at the White House was a special milestone. “Any opportunity to represent my gente and our beautiful city is a tremendous honor — whether that’s nationally or locally,” Romero says.