New Film - Sin Nombre

This film is by a American filmmaker Cary Fukunaga and it looks amazing. I heard about this film on NPR's Talk of the Nation and it won a couple of awards at Sundace . It's playing in major cities right now. Click here to see if it's playing in your city.

Facebook's Board of Directors Member Gives $1 Million to Anti-Immigration Group

According to Valleywag Peter Thiel who is one of Facebook's biggest investors and a member of their board of directors just donated $1 Million dollars to the anti-immigration group NumbersUSA. NumbersUSA is opposed to all types of immigrants including the majority of legal immigrants.

Join the Facebook group to hold Peter Thiel accountable by publicly denouncing NumbersUSA or stepping down from Facebook's board of directors.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57995012344

It should go without saying that members of this group should not click on any ads on Facebook and should opt-out of social ads:

"settings" -> "privacy settings" -> "news feed and wall" -> "social ads"-> "No One"

Update: Peter Thiel also coauthored a book, "The Diversity Myth", which argues that "multiculturalism" is used to promote intolerance on campuses. Is this guy serious?

Crossing Over - New Film Coming Out In 2009

Crossing Over - Theatrical Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

If you can't see the video click on the link above to watch the trailer. It Stars Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Jim Sturgess, & Sean Penn

Minuteman Spends 30 Days With an Undocumented Family

Click here to watch the full episode for free

Make sure you watch all the way to the end of the episode.

Frank is so misinformed and paranoid at the beginning. First of, there is no legal method for most undocumented immigrants to come here. There is no line. Also, 9/11 had nothing to do with undocumented immigration. His excuse that that was what inspired him shows how ignorant he really is. Don't be like Frank, inform yourself by checking out the links on the right side of this blog. Frank you have no comprehension of how immigration laws works. It's not as simple as, gee I really like that person, I think I'll sponsor them or filling out a form and bam you're a citizen. It doesn't work like that.

BTW: Most Cuban Americans would disagree with Frank on how easy it is these days (not 60 years ago) for Cubans to immigrate here and immigrants from Cuba have the least difficulty getting legal status. They receive asylum if they can put one foot on U.S. soil. Easier said than done. All they have to do is brave the dangerous ocean on rickety boats all while trying to evade the U.S. Coast Guard so they can step foot on U.S. soil granting them legal status. It's crazy and inhumane but that is how the law works. Don't even get me started on Haitian refugees in a similar situation or how Mexican and Central Americans braving the deserts of the southwest are treated.

Family Guy Takes on Immigration

This Episode is Hilarious. WARNING: If you've never seen an episode of Family Guy before, be prepared to be offended.

Undoucumented Immigrant - Cesar Millan

Cesar Millan is a former undocumented immigrant and professional dog trainer (although in his words, he "rehabilitates dogs, trains people"). He is best known for his television series, Dog Whisperer, which is currently in its fourth season and airs on the National Geographic Channel. He is also the co-author of a 2006 best selling book, Cesar's Way. Millan and his techniques were also depicted in a South Park Episode.

^{* If you know of any other notable undocumented immigrants, let me know}





Click here for part one of the full episode
Click here for part two of the full episode

Movie - Under The Same Moon

If you're having trouble viewing the trailer click here for a QuickTime version from apple trailers. It's supposed to be a good kids movie, when it comes to theaters, I'll take my little cousin to see it.

UNDER THE SAME MOON (LA MISMA LUNA) tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Riggen’s film is not only a heartwarming family story; she also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration.

The fact that it was picked up by Fox Searchlight means it will be shown in theaters nation wide and because it received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival I think it will be good.
IMDB link to cast & other info

Movies, Books, & Games

This list is not comprehensive and we hope you provide us with more recommendations based on the immigrant experience.

Movies

30 Days (Documentary where a Minuteman spends 30 days with an undocumented family)

Crossing Over (Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Sean Penn, etc- coming out in 2009)

Dirty Pretty Things (Undocumented Immigrants in the UK)
Goal! The Dream Begins (suggested by Fash, Undocumented Youth in U.S. dreams of becoming a soccer star)
In America (Undocumented Irish Family in New York)
Joy Luck Club(Chinese Immigrant Mothers and their Daughters)
Spellbound (Kid Friendly, about the national spelling bee, participants tend to be the children of immigrants)
Sweet Land(about a German immigrant after world war 2)
Under the Same Moon (Kid Friendly, about an undocumented child searching for his mother)

Books

Devils Highway (review by yave)
Documented Dreams
Nation of Immigrants by JFK (suggested by CitizenOrange)
What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng (review by yave)
White Flight (suggested by John)
They Take Our Jobs! (suggested by Fash)
Chronicles of a Nomad: Memoirs of an Immigrant

Games

Iced

Immigrant Idol

Think you don't know any undocumented immigrants? Watch American Idol.
Carly Smithson was turned away in season 5 for having a "visa problem", which is just a nice way of saying she didn't have one. Well, she is now documented and back on the show. Doesn't exactly fit into the stereotype of an undocumented immigrant does she?

Then there is Michael Johns, he came here on a student visa at age 18 and is now 29. He was recently married and I found this article saying he is still a couple of years away from becoming a citizen. It only takes 3 years of being married to an American Citizen to become one yourself. So what was Michael's immigration status from age 22 when his student visa would have expired to age 28 when he got married? It is possible that Michael was able to get a visa from a record company but those expire as soon as his contract is up and we all know you can't have a current contract to try out for American Idol. That would still leave him out of status. Gasp, could we possibly have yet another ex-undocumented idol?

The point I wanted to make was that you cannot stereotype people. Most people see a Hispanic worker in a fast food restaurant and assume they are undocumented but if they see Carly or Michael singing at a club, it doesn't even occur to them. Undocumented immigrants come in all ethnicities and professions.

I think it's important for me to point out that not all undocumented immigrants can adjust their status by simply getting married. Click here, here, and here for a few examples. Immigration laws are complicated to say the least and depend on the situation.

Who is this Guy?

If you don't speak Spanish, the odds are you've never heard of the Eddie Sotelo. In a nutshell, he is a former undocumented immigrant who is now a Spanish radio DJ.

Get this
His show beats Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh and Tom Joyner every weekday morning, according to Arbitron ratings.

What???? That's awesome, if anyone needs their egos deflated it's Stern and Limbaugh.

I heard he was applying for American citizenship so he could vote in 2008 election and was encouraging others to do the same. Good for him, he's not turning his back on his heritage.Click here for a Washington Post story on him if you want to know more.