"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