“I would rather live than attain liberty.” A Mexican immigrant in the documentary “Dying to Get In” said this about coming to America. This statement is in direct conflict with what is actually going on at our border with Mexico. Over three thousand people have attempted to cross our border with Mexico illegally in the last year. Of those three thousand that attempted, nearly one thousand died. This staggering statistic shows that the statement made above is a view that few possible border-crossers have. Why are there so many deaths? Its starts with the condition that these people are walking through. With temperatures ranging from 120°F to 32°F, food and water limited, and deadly coyote leaders, it is no surprise that so many have died. Children who cross with there parents are the reason for some of the deaths as well. Children do not have the strength or the stamina to make it through the harsh Southwest desert. If there is such a great chance of dying, then why do the people risk it?
Much of the illegal immigration is based on the economic situation in Mexico. In a poll presented in the film, four out of five migrants would have rather stayed in their own country, but because they could not feed their families they had to leave.. If there are no jobs in their towns and they are unable to get sufficient food because of the climate, then they would most likely die so it makes sense to attempt to cross. They make this trip to try to improve their children’s lives as well as their own. One migrant told of how he came here so that his son could become a doctor. In this situation I too feel that I would make the trek.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Dying to Get In by Brett Tolley
This documentary won an award for being the most socially relevant by the Hollywood student film festival. Tolley takes a very multifaceted view at the controversy over the border by interviewing people from all aspects of the border war. From the director of Borderlinks, a nonprofit organization focused on unbiased education dealing with the U.S. Mexico situation, to various members of law enforcement who deal with immigration on a daily basis to people who are trying to emigrate to the United States themselves, all walks of life are covered. It interested me greatly to hear the various accounts of the people who had tried and failed to cross the border into the United States more so than the opinions heard from the other sources. It was amazing how articulate some of the people were. They stressed very emphatically that their lives were what they valued most of all. They valued their liberty very highly, but would not work for liberty if their lives were at stake. Another thing that became very evident was the importance of faith and family in Latin American culture. Many said that one of the few things that got them as far as they did was their faith in God, and their motivation to give a better life to their loved ones, even if it was at the cost of their own discomfort. They likened their risks to risking everything for the possibility of a future, or staying put and watching their loved ones die a slow death. The most powerful statement by any of the Mexican immigrants was when one man declared that they were not dogs, nor second class human beings, but poor people at the mercy of a government more focused on relieving debt rather than healing the people that their economic situation affected so harshly. He proclaimed that if Mexico were fit to live in, they never would have wanted to leave in the first place. On the economic note, both the director of Borderlinks and an immigration lawyer in Arizona argue that the economic motivations for the large influx are partially our own fault. Isabel Garcia, the immigration lawyer, talks about the harm that NAFTA has caused by flooding Mexico with cheap American corn, leaving thousands of farmers without means to support their family. Those thousands of jobless find themselves trying to cross into America for job opportunities to support their families. One border patrol officer, Lou Godino, described 100 people being dropped off to be imprisoned, then deported each night, three or four busloads. Until there exists an alternative, these people simply will not stop crossing. Because of increased security, they are forced to try more obscure, dangerous routes to avoid being caught. Over 3000 people have died in the attempt since 1994. What is incredibly interesting to me is the point made that this border is incredibly unique in the world as it is the only border where a third world country directly borders a first world country. Granted, Mexico is taking steps towards creating a stable economy, but this will not completely stop the influx. The United States seems bent on making it more and more difficult on the people trying to emigrate to the United States when oftentimes these people are directly affected by the instability in the Mexican economy caused by the United States. The immigrant who stood out the most in my mind was a man who tried going to the United States to try to help pay for his son's medical school. He was college educated, and still unable to find gainful employment within Mexico. I hope that seeing a broader, in depth view of the people behind the numbers will make Americans more sympathetic towards the hardworking people who simply want a better life for themselves and their families. I enjoyed the documentary immensely and hope that people ignorant to the struggles and aspirations of the illegal immigrants will be enlightened by this moving film.
This documentary won an award for being the most socially relevant by the Hollywood student film festival. Tolley takes a very multifaceted view at the controversy over the border by interviewing people from all aspects of the border war. From the director of Borderlinks, a nonprofit organization focused on unbiased education dealing with the U.S. Mexico situation, to various members of law enforcement who deal with immigration on a daily basis to people who are trying to emigrate to the United States themselves, all walks of life are covered. It interested me greatly to hear the various accounts of the people who had tried and failed to cross the border into the United States more so than the opinions heard from the other sources. It was amazing how articulate some of the people were. They stressed very emphatically that their lives were what they valued most of all. They valued their liberty very highly, but would not work for liberty if their lives were at stake. Another thing that became very evident was the importance of faith and family in Latin American culture. Many said that one of the few things that got them as far as they did was their faith in God, and their motivation to give a better life to their loved ones, even if it was at the cost of their own discomfort. They likened their risks to risking everything for the possibility of a future, or staying put and watching their loved ones die a slow death. The most powerful statement by any of the Mexican immigrants was when one man declared that they were not dogs, nor second class human beings, but poor people at the mercy of a government more focused on relieving debt rather than healing the people that their economic situation affected so harshly. He proclaimed that if Mexico were fit to live in, they never would have wanted to leave in the first place. On the economic note, both the director of Borderlinks and an immigration lawyer in Arizona argue that the economic motivations for the large influx are partially our own fault. Isabel Garcia, the immigration lawyer, talks about the harm that NAFTA has caused by flooding Mexico with cheap American corn, leaving thousands of farmers without means to support their family. Those thousands of jobless find themselves trying to cross into America for job opportunities to support their families. One border patrol officer, Lou Godino, described 100 people being dropped off to be imprisoned, then deported each night, three or four busloads. Until there exists an alternative, these people simply will not stop crossing. Because of increased security, they are forced to try more obscure, dangerous routes to avoid being caught. Over 3000 people have died in the attempt since 1994. What is incredibly interesting to me is the point made that this border is incredibly unique in the world as it is the only border where a third world country directly borders a first world country. Granted, Mexico is taking steps towards creating a stable economy, but this will not completely stop the influx. The United States seems bent on making it more and more difficult on the people trying to emigrate to the United States when oftentimes these people are directly affected by the instability in the Mexican economy caused by the United States. The immigrant who stood out the most in my mind was a man who tried going to the United States to try to help pay for his son's medical school. He was college educated, and still unable to find gainful employment within Mexico. I hope that seeing a broader, in depth view of the people behind the numbers will make Americans more sympathetic towards the hardworking people who simply want a better life for themselves and their families. I enjoyed the documentary immensely and hope that people ignorant to the struggles and aspirations of the illegal immigrants will be enlightened by this moving film.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Response to Dying to Get In
Immigration and Exile
Professor Szczeszak-Brewer
Tommy Pecar
December 9, 2008
The documentary Dying to Get In provides a compelling outlook at the situation which many Mexican immigrants face in today’s modern world. For decades now, the Mexican-American border is the only border in the world which separates a third world nation and a first world nation. This documentary offers a realistic view on the constant struggles which these immigrants face and the reasons behind their desire to cross into the United States.
Unlike other documentaries, this documentary looks specifically into the dangers, struggles, and problems which Mexican immigrants encounter in their efforts to cross the Mexican-American border. I for one didn’t have a strong understanding of the economic crisis which many Mexicans face. I always saw Mexico as a country that was decently off, but obviously, throughout this film and throughout the duration of this course I’ve come to an understanding with the growing economic crisis involving Mexico. Because of the severity of the issue in Mexico, it allows me to further grasp at the idea of border hoping by Mexicans. Through series of interviews throughout the documentary, it’s clear that Mexico’s economic struggle is one of the major factors for many Mexicans to pursue life in the United States. One immigrant explains in the documentary of the unfortunate circumstances in Mexico. Ramon explains the problem which not only he faces, but what many others continue to encounter in his native Mexico. The ever growing problem of providing food and water at the dinner table, lack of money to pay the bills, saving for their children’s future education, and the growing exhaustion from long hours of labor are the major contributing factors for individuals to cross the border.
While there can be several other reasons why immigrants choose to cross the border into America, providing for the family financially as well as ensuring a better future for their children are the main reasons behind the motives of many immigrants trying to cross into the United States. There is a good indication from several Mexicans that Mexico was more concerned in paying their national debt, rather than helping its citizens live a better life. Many individuals say that the Pesos (Mexico’s currency) are little or no value when compared to the American dollar which is worth so much more. One individual (Ramon), really caught my attention during his whole interview. He has several insightful views on his personal experiences on the whole issue of the border crossing. He explains how he works extremely hard in the farm fields, sunrise to sunset making no more than ten dollars a week. He explains how hard it’s for many Mexicans to hear that many Americans make that in an hour or two. Ramon and the majority of Mexicans have a continuing struggle to provide their families with the basic necessities such as food, water, clothes, etc. It becomes very easy for me to understand why so many of them want to live in America because it becomes much easier for them to provide for their families with these basic necessities.
Ramon explains that not only living in Mexico is difficult financially; it is also extremely difficult to provide their children with a chance at living a good life, a higher education and a chance of having their own family. This is yet another solid and justified reason from my perspective on the reasons why Mexicans decide to cross into America illegally. I believe this is a legitimate reason why they chose to cross over. The famous saying “I’d do anything for my family” firmly justifies why so many brave Mexicans are willing to sacrifice their lives by taking a deadly chance going through polluted rivers, rocky mountains, and boiling deserts because they know there is a strong possibility that their family will have an opportunity at a better life style. Ramon says two very interesting things on this matter. He first says that “you need to do something for your children so they don’t have to suffer like their parents” and secondly he states, “we, as parents have two choices for our children. We can either cross the border into America and create a future for our kids, or we can stay in Mexico and watch them slowly die here. I think if any parent was in my situation, they would choose the first choice.” These quotes demonstrate the harsh realities faced by numerous Mexicans. Many of them understand the current situation regarding the economic woes in Mexico. On one side, they know that if they stay in Mexico, they don’t have to go through the deadly journey into America, while on the other hand, their children will face the harsh reality of a difficult life in Mexico where Ramon believes there is a large chance of seeing their kids die. On the flip side, if they decide to cross into America, there is a big possibility of dying along the way because of the various obstacles faced throughout the journey. If they make the journey into America, then they know that there is a strong chance that their family can live a better life and ensure a better future for their children.
After watching the documentary Dying to Get In, it certainly made me change my opinion of the ongoing issue of illegal crossing on the Mexican-American border. Before this film, I had a biased view on illegal immigrants crossing into America. I never thought they should cross into America because I thought the situation in Mexico wasn’t really that bad. But obviously after seeing this film and reading a few other articles in regards to Mexico’s economic issue, it made me realize the huge struggles that many Mexicans today face: the inability to make a decent earning, the inability to provide for their family, and most importantly, the inability to ensure their children’s future. Dying to Get In has truly changed my outlook on the border crossing issues. Unlike previous films, I have now had the opportunity to see the story from the immigrant’s perspective. I’m able to understand the reasons behind their choice to cross the border because in all honesty, I too would do anything for my family. I leave this response with one of the most unselfish response from Ramon which only further exemplifies the reasons why they cross over into America. “If we had a good country which cared about its citizens, if we had money, and a good standard of living, we wouldn’t be here[America].”
Professor Szczeszak-Brewer
Tommy Pecar
December 9, 2008
The documentary Dying to Get In provides a compelling outlook at the situation which many Mexican immigrants face in today’s modern world. For decades now, the Mexican-American border is the only border in the world which separates a third world nation and a first world nation. This documentary offers a realistic view on the constant struggles which these immigrants face and the reasons behind their desire to cross into the United States.
Unlike other documentaries, this documentary looks specifically into the dangers, struggles, and problems which Mexican immigrants encounter in their efforts to cross the Mexican-American border. I for one didn’t have a strong understanding of the economic crisis which many Mexicans face. I always saw Mexico as a country that was decently off, but obviously, throughout this film and throughout the duration of this course I’ve come to an understanding with the growing economic crisis involving Mexico. Because of the severity of the issue in Mexico, it allows me to further grasp at the idea of border hoping by Mexicans. Through series of interviews throughout the documentary, it’s clear that Mexico’s economic struggle is one of the major factors for many Mexicans to pursue life in the United States. One immigrant explains in the documentary of the unfortunate circumstances in Mexico. Ramon explains the problem which not only he faces, but what many others continue to encounter in his native Mexico. The ever growing problem of providing food and water at the dinner table, lack of money to pay the bills, saving for their children’s future education, and the growing exhaustion from long hours of labor are the major contributing factors for individuals to cross the border.
While there can be several other reasons why immigrants choose to cross the border into America, providing for the family financially as well as ensuring a better future for their children are the main reasons behind the motives of many immigrants trying to cross into the United States. There is a good indication from several Mexicans that Mexico was more concerned in paying their national debt, rather than helping its citizens live a better life. Many individuals say that the Pesos (Mexico’s currency) are little or no value when compared to the American dollar which is worth so much more. One individual (Ramon), really caught my attention during his whole interview. He has several insightful views on his personal experiences on the whole issue of the border crossing. He explains how he works extremely hard in the farm fields, sunrise to sunset making no more than ten dollars a week. He explains how hard it’s for many Mexicans to hear that many Americans make that in an hour or two. Ramon and the majority of Mexicans have a continuing struggle to provide their families with the basic necessities such as food, water, clothes, etc. It becomes very easy for me to understand why so many of them want to live in America because it becomes much easier for them to provide for their families with these basic necessities.
Ramon explains that not only living in Mexico is difficult financially; it is also extremely difficult to provide their children with a chance at living a good life, a higher education and a chance of having their own family. This is yet another solid and justified reason from my perspective on the reasons why Mexicans decide to cross into America illegally. I believe this is a legitimate reason why they chose to cross over. The famous saying “I’d do anything for my family” firmly justifies why so many brave Mexicans are willing to sacrifice their lives by taking a deadly chance going through polluted rivers, rocky mountains, and boiling deserts because they know there is a strong possibility that their family will have an opportunity at a better life style. Ramon says two very interesting things on this matter. He first says that “you need to do something for your children so they don’t have to suffer like their parents” and secondly he states, “we, as parents have two choices for our children. We can either cross the border into America and create a future for our kids, or we can stay in Mexico and watch them slowly die here. I think if any parent was in my situation, they would choose the first choice.” These quotes demonstrate the harsh realities faced by numerous Mexicans. Many of them understand the current situation regarding the economic woes in Mexico. On one side, they know that if they stay in Mexico, they don’t have to go through the deadly journey into America, while on the other hand, their children will face the harsh reality of a difficult life in Mexico where Ramon believes there is a large chance of seeing their kids die. On the flip side, if they decide to cross into America, there is a big possibility of dying along the way because of the various obstacles faced throughout the journey. If they make the journey into America, then they know that there is a strong chance that their family can live a better life and ensure a better future for their children.
After watching the documentary Dying to Get In, it certainly made me change my opinion of the ongoing issue of illegal crossing on the Mexican-American border. Before this film, I had a biased view on illegal immigrants crossing into America. I never thought they should cross into America because I thought the situation in Mexico wasn’t really that bad. But obviously after seeing this film and reading a few other articles in regards to Mexico’s economic issue, it made me realize the huge struggles that many Mexicans today face: the inability to make a decent earning, the inability to provide for their family, and most importantly, the inability to ensure their children’s future. Dying to Get In has truly changed my outlook on the border crossing issues. Unlike previous films, I have now had the opportunity to see the story from the immigrant’s perspective. I’m able to understand the reasons behind their choice to cross the border because in all honesty, I too would do anything for my family. I leave this response with one of the most unselfish response from Ramon which only further exemplifies the reasons why they cross over into America. “If we had a good country which cared about its citizens, if we had money, and a good standard of living, we wouldn’t be here[America].”
"Dying to Get In"
The documentary “Dying to Get In,” by Brett Tolley, is a real and eye-opening perspective on what it is like crossing the border. In the beginning of the movie, a few illegal immigrants are explaining their reasoning on why they crossed the border illegally. These men look as if they have lost all hope, because they have been captured by the border patrol. They are being detained and being questioned for their actions. The one man justifies his reasons for crossing illegally with a very heart-wrenching and convincing story. He says that he came across to acquire a job in order to pay for his son's education. His son is going to medical school and, in Mexico, he cannot obtain a substantial job that would pay for this education. So he comes to America to get a decent job to send money to pay for his son to go to school. The people crossing the border are only looking to better their families by taking advantage of the opportunities here in America. People in Mexico say America brought this illegal immigration upon themselves because of jobs being taken away from people in Mexico. For example, by selling Mexico cheap corn the farmers in Mexico couldn't compare and thus had to shut down and become jobless. It is an unfortunate true cause of the surge of illegal immigration.
The documentary then describes the business that is crossing the border. Many of the border crossing towns in Mexico feed off of the people coming to cross illegally. They take advantage of this economic migration by having things such as busses to take people to the borders, shops for supplies, hostels to house the immigrant, vendors for food, and coyotes to get them across. Coyotes are the main risk of border crossing because these “guides” take the people the wrong way then rob them. These guides also may not know the best way to get in the country. The coyotes know the people have a lot of money on them, so they rob them when they get close to the border. Coyotes are a dangerous risk, but many people are willing to take this risk considering no one knows the correct routes to cross other than these coyotes. The documentary shows many people praying they will be safe in their travels because it is such a risk. Since 1994, 3000 people have died trying to come across the border. It is a dangerous and risky task for those who want a better life.
It is an eye-opening documentary because it gives the side of the story not heard very often, it gives the side of the illegal immigrants. I have learned things that had never really come to mind about the actual travel of the immigrants and the risks they had to overcome. I now know that these people have very legitimate reasons for coming across the border to the U.S. and how hard it is to actually do so. I never realized how nerve racking an experience like this would be. I really don't know how these immigrants can handle all of the fears that come along with the trek. I could not handle the fact that I maybe wont make it. I have respect for these people in what they are doing because they are risking their lives to come into this country to better their lives. They truly are “dying to get in.”
Dying to Get In
The documentary “Dying to Get In” shows immigration from the perspective of the immigrants. The director Brent Tolley interviewed immigrants who have been detained and some who have successfully crossed the border and let them tell their story on why they wanted to come to America. He let them talk about their experiences with trying to sneak into the country, and why they migrated to the United States. One immigrant he interviewed showed a lot of emotion because the immigrants don’t understand why we guard the border so severely. Another immigrant said “one day America will need to change its way on how it looks at things (immigration).” I believe he said this because most of the immigrants, including him, trying to cross the border are in need of some help financially. The only place that can give them this help and support is the United States. This provided a more emotional side of why people want to come to this country to me. They believe that the United States is the greatest country in the world. The problem with this is; the United States has problems itself. Our economy is at an all time low, we are still scared about terrorist attacks, and we are involved in two wars. While the border patrol and the United States make it hard for immigrants another group of people says they help, but they just make things worse. This group is known as the ‘coyotes,’ people who get paid to sneak in immigrants from Mexico. These manipulative people take advantage of the people they are ‘helping,’ but really the coyotes are taking the immigrants money and leaving them out to dry. There are some coyotes that honestly do help the immigrants cross the border, but only a few really help. One man that was interviewed said “some coyote’s get you so lost there isn’t any way to return home.”
Immigration is a very hot topic discussed all over the country. Most Americans think that the immigrants coming over are hurting the country as a whole, but the immigrants who sneak into the country don’t want to be here anyway. Did you know that four out of five migrants would prefer to stay back at home? Due to their struggles at home they believe that coming to America and working here for a few years will help them get back on their feet. One immigrant that was detained by the border patrol said “We aren’t dogs, we aren’t second class people, and it’s not our fault that we live in a poor country. All we want is a better life.” This is a problem we need to fix as a country. Most of the people who migrate to the United States are in need of help. They need a job to pay for their families needs. Most of the immigrants who come over to the United States just need help financially. The government on the other hand will tell them to go through the asylum process, but the process to obtain citizenship could take years and years to. Our country makes it too hard for immigrants to obtain citizenship. There are too many fees and too many questions they ask. I know they ask these questions because of terrorism, but I don’t understand why they charge so many fees while the person is working and putting money in the economy. Many disagree because of the terrorism issue, but something needs to be done to broadcast the big picture of human beings trying to make a better life for their families. One expert that was interviewed on the film said, “the America-Mexico border is the only place where a third world country meets with a first world country.” Sadly, this statement is true and we, as Americans need to help people who are desperate for money.
Immigration is a very hot topic discussed all over the country. Most Americans think that the immigrants coming over are hurting the country as a whole, but the immigrants who sneak into the country don’t want to be here anyway. Did you know that four out of five migrants would prefer to stay back at home? Due to their struggles at home they believe that coming to America and working here for a few years will help them get back on their feet. One immigrant that was detained by the border patrol said “We aren’t dogs, we aren’t second class people, and it’s not our fault that we live in a poor country. All we want is a better life.” This is a problem we need to fix as a country. Most of the people who migrate to the United States are in need of help. They need a job to pay for their families needs. Most of the immigrants who come over to the United States just need help financially. The government on the other hand will tell them to go through the asylum process, but the process to obtain citizenship could take years and years to. Our country makes it too hard for immigrants to obtain citizenship. There are too many fees and too many questions they ask. I know they ask these questions because of terrorism, but I don’t understand why they charge so many fees while the person is working and putting money in the economy. Many disagree because of the terrorism issue, but something needs to be done to broadcast the big picture of human beings trying to make a better life for their families. One expert that was interviewed on the film said, “the America-Mexico border is the only place where a third world country meets with a first world country.” Sadly, this statement is true and we, as Americans need to help people who are desperate for money.
Dying To Get In
Brett Tolley, the director of Dying To Get In, filmed from the point-of-view of the illegal Hispanic immigrants trying to cross into the United States through the southern border. These illegal immigrants that he followed throughout the documentary show how they feel about the United States laws towards immigrants and why they have the same rights to be in the United States as any other person.
Surprisingly, four out of five illegal workers that are in the United States would have rather stayed in Mexico, but because of the lack of governmental funding for the Mexican citizens, they are forced to come to America to find work to be able to feed their families. In my opinion, the Mexican government needs to supply their citizens with better jobs and possibly more need based programs like the United States has formed, i.e. welfare, section eight low income housing and Medicare.
In the most heavily crossed points in the United States and Mexico border, there have been high fences put in place to keep out illegal immigrants. This has forced illegal’s to travel into the remote areas of the desert to cross, which takes up to four days. Because they are forced to travel in the desert, more than 3,000 illegal Mexican immigrants have died due to dehydration and weather conditions. There is another way illegal’s come into America. There are coyotes which are people who transport illegal Mexicans into the United States either by driving them over the border in a vehicle or traveling by foot with them through the desert. These illegals spend most of their savings in order to cross the border with a coyote. Unfortunately for them, the United States catches most of them and deports them back to Mexico.
In response to the documentary, it angered me. Many of these immigrants do not stop trying to cross the border even after they have been caught. They break the law every time they try crossing the border. In my opinion, if a person is caught trying to cross the border they should be detained for a duration of time and fined a large amount of money. I did like that there is a group that tries to keep the illegal’s safe when crossing the border. Groupo Beta is the group that tries to inform the Mexicans that try to cross the border of the dangers that they may encounter. This group also tells the people that are crossing that if they encounter trouble, they should seek an American patrol for help. It was very different looking at immigration from a Mexican perspective than from my American vision. This is why I was outraged at some of the sights I saw in the documentary.
Dying To Get In
Brett Tolley
Surprisingly, four out of five illegal workers that are in the United States would have rather stayed in Mexico, but because of the lack of governmental funding for the Mexican citizens, they are forced to come to America to find work to be able to feed their families. In my opinion, the Mexican government needs to supply their citizens with better jobs and possibly more need based programs like the United States has formed, i.e. welfare, section eight low income housing and Medicare.
In the most heavily crossed points in the United States and Mexico border, there have been high fences put in place to keep out illegal immigrants. This has forced illegal’s to travel into the remote areas of the desert to cross, which takes up to four days. Because they are forced to travel in the desert, more than 3,000 illegal Mexican immigrants have died due to dehydration and weather conditions. There is another way illegal’s come into America. There are coyotes which are people who transport illegal Mexicans into the United States either by driving them over the border in a vehicle or traveling by foot with them through the desert. These illegals spend most of their savings in order to cross the border with a coyote. Unfortunately for them, the United States catches most of them and deports them back to Mexico.
In response to the documentary, it angered me. Many of these immigrants do not stop trying to cross the border even after they have been caught. They break the law every time they try crossing the border. In my opinion, if a person is caught trying to cross the border they should be detained for a duration of time and fined a large amount of money. I did like that there is a group that tries to keep the illegal’s safe when crossing the border. Groupo Beta is the group that tries to inform the Mexicans that try to cross the border of the dangers that they may encounter. This group also tells the people that are crossing that if they encounter trouble, they should seek an American patrol for help. It was very different looking at immigration from a Mexican perspective than from my American vision. This is why I was outraged at some of the sights I saw in the documentary.
Dying To Get In
Brett Tolley
"Dying to Get In"
“Dying to Get In” was a very informing documentary on Latino immigrants from Mexico and their struggles trying to get into America. Many of these people are fleeing to America to find better work and wages. They are coming from a poor third world country into a first world country and doing so illegally is very dangerous due to the gauntlet (desert) that lies ahead of them. Many of these immigrants are good people who are seeking a better route to earning money for their families. One immigrant stated that in one full day of work, he earned only ten U.S. dollars. Another immigrant said that living in Mexico was very dangerous and that the living conditions are unsanitary. The film stated that four out of five migrants prefer to work in one place rather than traveling around to find work in different places. The film told us about the three operations set up to keep these illegal immigrants out. The three operations were known as Gate Keeper, Safe Guard, and Rio Grande.
Crossing the deadly desert is no easy task, and many die along the way due to extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the treacherous walk. One group stated that the journey could last about three to four days. These large groups are lead by “Coyote’s” who for a large fee will illegally smuggle immigrants through the desert into America. Some of these smugglers are not trustworthy and on some occasions will leave these people stranded along the way.
Before leaving Mexico some of these immigrants go to a city known as Altar. This destination is used frequently for immigrants coming from the South, because it offers them time to rest before they are shipped in vans to Sasabe which is right on the border. In altar there is a shelter that offers these people a place to stay and receive a warm meal. These immigrants know that they have a long journey and do not know what to expect long the way. Many Latino immigrants rely on faith to get them into America safely. Groupo Beta is an organization out of Mexico who stations themselves along roads that lead to towns along the border. They stated that in one day they saw 2,700 immigrants that were attempting to cross the border. When Groupo Beta stops these vehicles full of immigrants, they explain to them the risks of crossing into America before they experience them first hand. They also tell these immigrants that if help is needed, seek the nearest border patrol official and ask for help. Also, they provide these immigrants with a number to call if they run into serious trouble. The border patrol is becoming larger and more advanced in what they are doing making illegal immigration over the U.S. /Mexico border much harder and intimidating for illegal immigrants.
At the end one immigrant stated that if the living conditions in Mexico were acceptable than they would have no reason to come and live in America. The film stated that since 1999, 3,000 illegal immigrants have died. This is a continuing controversial problem that needs a lot of attention. Border patrol officials are doing their job by keeping these illegal immigrants who are breaking the law out of the country. On the other hand, the Mexican immigrants believe that they are improving their lives and escaping a country that is not suitable for them to live in. They do not see anything wrong with what they are doing.
Documentary By: Brett Tolley
Crossing the deadly desert is no easy task, and many die along the way due to extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the treacherous walk. One group stated that the journey could last about three to four days. These large groups are lead by “Coyote’s” who for a large fee will illegally smuggle immigrants through the desert into America. Some of these smugglers are not trustworthy and on some occasions will leave these people stranded along the way.
Before leaving Mexico some of these immigrants go to a city known as Altar. This destination is used frequently for immigrants coming from the South, because it offers them time to rest before they are shipped in vans to Sasabe which is right on the border. In altar there is a shelter that offers these people a place to stay and receive a warm meal. These immigrants know that they have a long journey and do not know what to expect long the way. Many Latino immigrants rely on faith to get them into America safely. Groupo Beta is an organization out of Mexico who stations themselves along roads that lead to towns along the border. They stated that in one day they saw 2,700 immigrants that were attempting to cross the border. When Groupo Beta stops these vehicles full of immigrants, they explain to them the risks of crossing into America before they experience them first hand. They also tell these immigrants that if help is needed, seek the nearest border patrol official and ask for help. Also, they provide these immigrants with a number to call if they run into serious trouble. The border patrol is becoming larger and more advanced in what they are doing making illegal immigration over the U.S. /Mexico border much harder and intimidating for illegal immigrants.
At the end one immigrant stated that if the living conditions in Mexico were acceptable than they would have no reason to come and live in America. The film stated that since 1999, 3,000 illegal immigrants have died. This is a continuing controversial problem that needs a lot of attention. Border patrol officials are doing their job by keeping these illegal immigrants who are breaking the law out of the country. On the other hand, the Mexican immigrants believe that they are improving their lives and escaping a country that is not suitable for them to live in. They do not see anything wrong with what they are doing.
Documentary By: Brett Tolley
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