The Golden Door; The Ties That Bind

Poet Emma Lazarus called America the "golden door," referring to our formerly liberal policy toward immigration. Today, that image is a bit tarnished, as controversy rages over whether immigration is good or bad for the economic health of the country. Two new programs offer an overview of the history of immigration in America and a critique of current policy and practices. The Golden Door looks at the reasons emigrants from Europe, Asia, and Africa came to our shores: Africans were forced, while Europeans were squeezed out by the Industrial Revolution and failing food crops (such as the terrible Irish potato famine), and Asians came seeking gold. Political asylum, freedom, work, the American Dream, these were the beacons that drew the new settlers (with the exception of Africans sold into slavery) to the New World. Combining archival stills and newsreel footage, The Golden Door provides a good general overview of the history of immigration and touches upon the complex issues facing legislators today as America tries to live up to her historical mandate of being, in poet Walt Whitman's words, a "teeming nation of nations." Recommended. Aud: J, H, P.The Ties That Bind, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the issue of immigration from Mexico, a subject made even more complex with the passing of the NAFTA trade agreement. Produced by Maryknoll World Productions--a Catholic lay missionary organization--the documentary presents stories from people on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, touching on the controversy surrounding the maquiladoras (American factories transplanted to Mexico to take advantage of inexpensive labor), the repressive aspects of current immigration policy, and the implied contradiction with our historical role as a refuge for the "huddled masses." While the personal stories are affecting, the program takes a decidedly liberal stance on the immigration question and--though it offers economic and political arguments in favor of easing immigration laws--tends to see (especially towards the end) the issue in terms of Christian ethics as opposed to demographic realities. For instance, the program doesn't begin to raise the question of what would happen should we open the border and half of Mexico City accept the invitation. Still, this inexpensive look at one area of the immigration controversy will get people thinking and talking. Recommended, with reservations. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)