Immigration Battle

One of the most contentious political issues of recent years—especially this election cycle—is what is routinely described as our broken immigration system. Eleven million undocumented men, women, and children now reside in the United States, with no clear path to citizenship, or consensus on what to do about it. Filmmakers Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini's PBS-aired Frontline/Independent Lens documentary takes viewers to the bottleneck of the battle: the United States Congress. Shortly after Obama's 2012 re-election, there was hope that some common ground could be found with bipartisan efforts from the "Gang of 8," pressure from the "Dreamers" (college age children of undocumented parents), and the help of former House Speaker John Boehner, who was committed to finding a solution. House member Democrat Luis Gutíerrez is passionate about the issue here, walking a fine line between cooperation, confrontation, and civil disobedience. Over everything looms the threat of deportation and the splitting up of families. The documentary clearly shows today's toxic political atmosphere, including the fact that Republican legislators from gerrymandered districts don't need Latino voters, the threats of government shutdowns, a confrontational Tea Party lobby, and the constant background noise supplied by conservative talk radio and cable TV commentators. For the Dreamers, emotions run the gamut from hope to frustration, anger, and despair, as House votes are scuttled and mass deportations continue (Obama is scornfully labeled the "deporter in chief"). Republicans routinely cite the "trust issue"—a catch-all ranging from GOP displeasure with Obamacare to security concerns—and it's hard to see any progress being made until after the 2016 election. Offering a solid overview (even if it is unlikely to change many minds) of an urgent, complex crisis, this timely film is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)