Who is tom llamas

The new program also marks a professional homecoming for Llamas. He will report for our various platforms and there is really no bigger priority right now than NBC News Now. Company Town. NBC News increased its dedication to Latino-related stories last year when it announced a formal initiative to collaborate on reports with Telemundo and present them in both Spanish and English.

For Llamas, the immigration issue is personal and likely prepared him for his profession. His parents came to the U. He gets emotional when telling the story of how their perseverance led to him getting opportunities to succeed. Being the son of political refugees in Miami who lived through the Cuban revolution and the Bay of Pigs required Llamas to pay attention to current affairs from an early age.

By the time he reached middle school, the Miami Herald was required reading in the Llamas home. Llamas has never drifted far from his Cuban roots. As a TV correspondent in his hometown of Miami, Llamas gained a deeper understanding of the immigration crisis. It will showcase the extreme reach of NBC News and our reporting teams. We will take the viewers to all the big stories of the day not only in the US but all over the world.

From the Today Show to Telemundo. As a family we grew up watching NBC so this truly is an honor. We have so many talented journalists who are also amazing people. Lester Holt has been a friend who has offered tremendous advice to me over the years and is a role model. He is more than just a friend and a mentor. Craig Melvin is also a friend and someone I truly respect. Before we had kids we enjoyed some memorable NYC nights out with our wives.

It has been an honor to work here. I am the son of immigrants, and because of that, I have never taken for granted the opportunity or the responsibility to sit at this desk and bring you the truth.

Tom has been a part of ABC News for several years, and his departure came as a shock to many. One viewer wrote:. Change is something we all have a hard time dealing with. Tom, Best wishes and Thank you! Tom was discrete and did not openly state where he was headed after ABC. We've roasted pigs — it freaks them out a little bit, but I've explained to them that this is part of their culture.

We listen to a lot of music. As far as speaking Spanish goes, it's something that we're working on. Our oldest has started taking classes. We go over words and the kids are surrounded by the language when we're in Miami. It takes time, but we'll get there. Language is the key to culture, so it's a big focus. I want them to understand and appreciate the immigrant experience.

They are the grandchildren of immigrants, people who came here with nothing and took a chance and started from scratch because they wanted something better for their family.

In Spanish, they call it el exilio — the exile. It's a heavy topic, but they seem to understand that. My parents didn't speak English. They had no money. Yet this amazing country allowed them a path to citizenship and gave them opportunities. They became professionals, raised a family, put their kids through school and now their son anchors a network news broadcast.

People are always curious about how that happens. It happens because you believe in hard work, you take nothing for granted and you have a good support system. Family has always been first for us. As an immigrant, when you have nothing but your family, you never forget that, and you maintain that and you keep those relationships close.

I talk to my parents almost every day.