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September 16, 2004
The New Americans
This week we finished watching The New Americans, a three episode series from PBS. The series follows various immigrants during their journey to the U.S. and the beginning of their lives in the country. Filmed during the late 90’s, it is truly fascinating. I would highly recommend buying or renting the videos.
You ride an emotional roller coaster with all the families and become attached to nearly all the individuals in the film. For me though some of the most moving scenes involved young Juan Flores, the 8 year-old son of Pedro and Ventura Flores who emigrate from their home in Mexico.
Pedro has worked in the U.S for 13 years, only able to return home every 6-months to visit his family for a quick two weeks. After years of trying, he finally secures visa interviews for his family at the U.S. consulate in Juarez in an attempt to legally bring them to the States. During the the beginning of the interview they learn that although Pedro has found an additional sponsor to meet the income requirements for bringing 6 dependents across the border, this will not be enough. Since someone outside the family is being used as a sponsor, Pedro's income is not counted towards the sponsorship requirements. They are informed unless they find another sponsor they will only be granted three visas out of the desired six.
Outside the consulate they unsuccessfully call friends in the U.S. trying to find an additional sponsor. Sitting in the the consulate the next day, prepared to discuss other options with the immigration official, young Juan breaks down in tears. He approaches his parents as they ask him why he is crying and try to calm him down. In tears he gets out:
"You’re all going over there, and you’re not going to take me,"
His parents of course tell him that there is no way they would break up the family and do comfort him, but the viewer is still left heartbroken for the 8-year-old. The scene is a powerful reminder of the need to reform our immigration laws for those whose only desire is to come to this country in search of opportunity and to be with their loved ones.
UPDATE: Steve Rhodes from Blogcritics points out that several people who produced The New Americans were also involved in the making of Hoop Dreams, another of my favorite documentaries.
Posted by Peter Mork at September 16, 2004 10:13 PM
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