After students watch the film, engage the class in a discussion about the movie. Use some or all of the discussion questions below.
1. What are some of the public policy issues that factor into the debate on what to do with illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America who have settled lives in the U.S.?
Suggested Response:
The following is not meant to be a comprehensive list and it is probably influenced by the author’s view that illegal immigrants already in the U.S. who have no record of a felony criminal conviction and who have jobs or who are part of a settled family, should be given a path to citizenship. The following concepts are important to any debate and should be part of any full discussion:
Illegal immigrants come to the U.S. because they need jobs, and there are jobs here that Americans don’t want or which offer wages so low that American workers won’t take them. Obviously, if there are jobs for which there are no available workers, then immigration is good for the economy. On the other hand, if illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from U.S. workers because the illegal immigrants are willing to work for low wages, this benefits business owners and householders at the expense of U.S. workers.
Laws that fly in the face of economic and demographic realities are difficult to enforce and often fail.
Immigrants generally add value to the economy.
American businesses would be hurt if all the illegals were rounded up and deported.
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants; all citizens of the U.S., if you go back far enough, are the descendants of immigrants.
Poor immigrants from Mexico and Central America put extraordinary demands on healthcare systems and the school systems, and ultimately on American taxpayers.
Illegal immigrants broke the law and allowing them to stay erodes respect for the law.
Giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship favors them above people who followed the rules and obtained their right to be in the U.S. legally.
2. Who are the economic winners and losers from illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America to the U.S.?
Suggested Response:
To the extent that the illegal immigrants fill jobs that U.S. citizens will not take or jobs for whom there are not enough U.S. workers to fill the available positions, illegal immigrants benefit the entire economy. Illegal immigrants are generally younger than the overall U.S. population and help to shoulder the social security burden for those U.S. citizens who are retiring. To the extent that illegal immigrants compete with U.S. citizens and legal residents for jobs, their presence in the country benefits employers at the expense of workers by depressing wages. Thus, the winners would be employers of all types, from families that hire maids to businesses that hire low wage workers. The losers would be U.S. citizens or legal residents who might want those jobs, sometimes at a higher wage. In addition, it is important to note that over time the incorporation of immigrant groups to the U.S. economy has led to the creation of wealth that benefits everyone. Historically, all immigrant groups to the U.S. have contributed to the country’s economic success, and Hispanics are no exception.
3. What is the role of birthright citizenship in illegal immigration?
Suggested Response:
Birthright citizenship is the doctrine, now a constitutional provision in the 14th Amendment, that a person born in the U.S., no matter what their parentage, is a citizen of the U.S. The chief role that it plays in illegal immigration is that when undocumented immigrants give birth to children in the U.S., families could be divided if the parents are deported. The children, as American citizens, have the right to remain in the country. Those in favor of more restrictive policies on immigration claim that people of child-bearing age come to the U.S. to have children who will be U.S. citizens.
4. Imagine the following two children if they were forced to move from the U.S. and live in Mexico: the first is a 15-year-old child born in the U.S. who has lived in the U.S all his or her life attending U.S. schools; the second is a 15-year-old child who was born in Mexico, smuggled into the U.S. by his or her parents at the age of five, who has lived in the U.S. continuously from age 5 to 15 attending U.S. schools. How will their reactions differ or will they be same?
Suggested Response:
Their reactions will be the same; they will feel they were living in an alien country.
5. What is the difference between refugees seeking asylum because of political or religious persecution or extreme violence in their communities and economic migrants? Should they be treated differently?
Suggested Response:
A refugee seeking asylum because of persecution has traditionally been more favored than economic refugees. However, what happens when it’s a matter of starvation or a stunted life for the children who would not receive adequate nutrition or education in their home country?
6. Do you agree that immigrants seeking to say in the U.S. should be required to learn to speak and read English with at least a minimal proficiency?
Suggested Response:
This proposition is the subject of debate. The argument for it is that English is required in most parts of the country for people to be understood and to deal with businesses and the government. The argument against is that, as a practical matter, many immigrants, legal and illegal, cannot speak English.
7. To what extent do you believe that immigrants have an obligation to assimilate into U.S. society, i.e., to adopt the values and customs of the majority culture?
Suggested Response:
This question is the subject of debate. While there are many aspects of different cultures that give variety to life that can be retained, such as different ways of celebrating holidays, family customs, language spoken in the home, etc. there are certain core values of the majority culture that should be adopted by immigrants. TWM has identified the following, there are probably more:
a. the belief that “all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,”
b. adherence to the rule of law;
c. tolerance of and equal treatment for people despite differences in race, religion, national origin, and gender;
d. the balance between the rights of the majority to rule and the rights of individuals or minorities set out in the Constitution;
e. a respect for freedom of speech and of association;
f. that people who work hard and play by the rules should be rewarded.
The basic values of U.S. Culture change over time. For example, many would include, within #3, that tolerance and equal treatment should be extended to LBGT people; but whether the belief that these people should be treated equally is a basic value which defines what it means to be part of the U.S. culture is another question. It would be a good exercise for the class to list those values which are core American values and those which are not.
8. What should be the goals of U.S. immigration policy? These goals are not always consistent and compromises may have to be made between them.
Suggested Response:
There are several, and there is no one correct response to this question. Here are a few suggestions. First, there is the goal of attracting to the U.S. skilled workers and motivated workers who will contribute to the economy. Second, there are the humanitarian goals of allowing people who are suffering from political persecution or who are at risk of extreme violence to come to a safe place to live. Another humanitarian goal is to unite families by allowing families to bring other family members to the U.S. A third goal is to limit the number of immigrants to a number that can be absorbed into U.S. society without changing the nature of U.S. society. A fourth goal is to keep out terrorists and those who would threaten our security.
Questions the Relate Specifically to the Movie:
9. In this story Carlos lost his truck, lost the money he borrowed from his sister, and was deported. However, in the process of looking for the thief, he gained something that was very important. What was it?
Suggested Response:
At the end of the film, Carlos had the respect and love of his son, who is now removed from the gang influence and can try for the American Dream. While the setbacks that Carlos suffered were substantial, regaining his relationship with his son was probably even more valuable than all that he lost.
10. What are Carlos’s important personality traits?
Suggested Response:
There are a number of them. (1) he wants a better life for his son; (2) he keeps on trying, even after major setbacks such as being arrested and deported; (3) he is an empathetic person, for example, he stops Luis from beating the man who stole the truck; (4) he is poorly equipped to be a father and doesn’t know how to properly raise his son.
See Discussion Questions for Use With any Film that is a Work of Fiction.
