U.S. immigration policy has long reflected a tension between the demand for low-wage labor and the enforcement of immigration laws. That dynamic has shaped families, workplaces and communities across generations. This short doc traces that history from mass deportations during the Great Depression to the Bracero guest worker program during World War II, into today’s debates over unauthorized immigration.
Through interviews with historians and firsthand accounts, we explore how America’s economic reliance on Mexican laborers has often coexisted with efforts to restrict immigration through law and policy.
As the Trump administration’s call for tighter border control continues alongside a need for seasonal and low-wage workers, this film offers historical context to ongoing national debates.
View transcript here.
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