The State of Arizona

With over 11 million illegal immigrants in America, critics charge that both the nation's southwest border and the emigration system itself are "broken." Few states are as stressed as Arizona, with its overcrowded prisons and underfunded schools. Filmmakers Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini's PBS-aired Independent Lens documentary describes Arizona as the epicenter of the immigrant earthquake, with emotions and rhetoric running high on all sides. Conservatives call immigrants an invading army, raising worries about violent drug cartels, while fearing a loss of communities and hard-earned lifestyles. Immigration advocates decry racial profiling and "harboring" charges, which could be something as simple as inviting an undocumented grandfather to one's home for dinner. Some argue that police departments and local governments are waging a war of attrition, making life so miserable for illegal immigrants that they will choose to self-deport. The film interviews vocal critics including Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, Governor Jan Brewer, and former state Senator Russell Pearce, as well as average citizens who complain that immigrants are indoctrinating their children with hatred for white people. Also covered are the numerous demonstrations and boycott drives, along with voter registration and legal cases that have led all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Meanwhile, other states are adopting Arizona's punitive model. Although the documentary basically supports the immigrant cause, the coverage here is mostly fair to both sides, and no simple solutions are suggested. Opening a window on a red hot emotional topic, this is sure to spark debate among viewers (a bonus PDF discussion guide is included). Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)