Rosas1

Paola K. Rosas
Professor Gail Taylor
English 1A STACC
17 March 2015
Annotated Bibliography of Immigration Reform and Film
By doing this research I learned that government reforms and laws have to be considered
since the beginning of the Nations values. The United States was built by immigrants, although
in the beginning the founding fathers only created a constitution that favored them, but used a
language that could allow changes to be made throughout time. As years have passed the Nation
has changed and allowed people to have quality opportunities to have a successful life. Although,
it seems that people do not remember that this is an immigrant country and we need to keep
creating opportunities for immigrants. The Presidents plan to allow certain undocumented
immigrants to obtain benefits and contribute to society is not supported by many, and it should
be in everyone's interest to benefit from this.
Obamas affirmative action was not created specifically to favor the Latino community,
but Latinos are a community that will benefit a lot from this. Every Latino in this county takes
the issue of immigration very personal because all our families are immigrants and we a group
who is alienated. Some people cannot even tell who is an undocumented immigrant and who is
not, and it creates a problem because some people have the mindset that most Latinos do not
have papers. This issue is sensitive for this community that is only relying on each other to
protect their own.
Yet, some may consider themselves American or half American even they are not citizens
of the U.S. America has been the home for people for many years, and the only home some

Rosas2

immigrants know. Like President Obama said, it is obvious that millions of people are not going
to be deported so actions need to be made in order to help the people who live in the shadows.
Jorge Ramos said in his discussion with Bill Moyers America is not just black and white
anymore (Films Media Group). I think he is right, America is black, white, tan, red, blue, white,
and anything it wants to be. But some people do not want to accept diversity.
The reason I see for people not wanting to accept diversity if because they fear change.
This Nation has seen change many times, but it has not changed for a while, and people are
scared that their comfort will be taken from them. But this is unstoppable, change will continue
because the amount of immigrant people continues to grow and the wrong measures continue to
be taken. Ultimately this issue will stop being a problem once it is resolved and immigrants can
be treated equally as any other person in this country.
Issues like this one are the reason why I want to be a filmmaker. Because Through films
you can show people examples of reality that they do not think of, and can begin to investigate.
Through stories is how we engage people and make them empathize with others, such as Sonia
Sotomayor with her memoir. Hollywood is an industry that is powerful and can contribute to
changing peoples minds, not only creating profit for themselves. I hope in a near future I can
contribute to this society by sharing my ideas and stories with anyone who is willing to
experience a mental change through art.
Sources
Bhagwati, Jagdish, and Francisco Rivera-Batiz. "A Kinder, Gentler Immigration Policy."
Foreign Affairs 92.6 (2013): 9-15. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Mar. 2015
Since the IRCA (Immigration Reform and Control Act) other efforts to create
comprehensive immigration reforms have not succeeded. Today the challenges to end

Rosas3

unauthorized immigrant crossings are less prone to work because the issue has grown in the past
30 years. Even though, the Nation was built by immigrants and should continue to help
immigrants. A solution to stop people from discriminating undocumented immigrants is for
Mexico to provide funds for those who cross and take care of their people. But really what
everyone needs to understand is that not all immigrants who cross from Mexico are Mexican.
And that people leave their countries cannot provide the life the people want so they leave, and if
the government does not do it in their country, it is not going to do it in the U.S.
Hinojosa-Ojeda, Ral. "The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform." CATO
Journal 32.1 (2012): 175-199. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Mar. 2015
The United States has tried to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants who try to
cross to the U.S. by imposing stricter border controls than ever before. Although, these measures
have failed to stop people from coming. What America needs is to create laws that are adaptable
for current immigrants and future legal immigrants. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control
Act is an example of a comprehensive reform that was created to help immigrants then, to favor
the economy, increase jobs, and generate additional taxes. After the IRCA no other actions other
than reinforcing the U.S.-Mexican borders have not been made, and the only thing that
reinforcement has caused is for immigrants to risk their lives even more.
"Full Video: Obama's Immigration Town Hall | MSNBC." Youtube. MSNBC, 25 Feb. 2015.
Web.23
Mar. 2015. <https://youtu.be/mrwrsAC3OJk>
Barack Obamas Town Hall demonstrates the strategies he has to work in favor of
immigrant reforms. He admits he has not had much help from other parties and that this
affirmative action will create better conditions for undocumented immigrants and the whole

Rosas4

Nation overall. He tries to also make people understand that this affirmative action is not made to
protect everyone and that each person's case is different and that there is only so much he can do.
Nevertheless Obama is confident that his plans are solid and that change will happen.
Johnson, Fawn. "The Two Filmmakers Who Spent 12 Years Shooting a Movie About
Congress." National Journal (2013): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Mar. 2015
Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson are two filmmakers that in early 2001 decided to
create a documentary series about immigration reforms and how Congress dealt with the issue.
They began filming and thought it was a good idea until September of that same year when the
attack to the twin towers was made and the immigrant reform issue would not be relevant
anymore. Yet, they continued to film the series and follow various members of Congress, record
conversations and film interviews. In 2007 they finished filming when they really thought the
issue was dead and began editing all the footage of six years. On 2012 when the issue came
back to the attention of people they decided to continue with their documentary and as of today
they have released 10 episodes of the series, and they will produce two more. Almost in the end
they have realized that issues take a great amount of time to be resolved, but even then there is
no change.
"Immigration Reform." Congressional Digest 94.1 (2015): 9. Academic Search Premier. Web.
17 Mar. 2015
The text talks about President Obama's strategy to allow certain immigrants to apply for
a visa and a social security number. The discourse he gave mentioned points like protecting more
the southern borders in order to have less immigrants cross without authorization, and implement
a program to prioritize deportation processing for people who have committed felonies. The plan
is not to deport all undocumented immigrants, neither give all of them papers, instead it is a plan

Rosas5

that meets half way and favors those who have been here longer and that have American born
children.
INTELECOM Intelligent Telecommunications. American Heritage. 2002 INTELECOM Online
Resources Network. March 23, 2015.
This short film is a statement of how modern day American politics cannot be understood
without the relationship they have with the founding fathers patrimony. When the founding
fathers began creating the Nation it was only for their advantage (white males). Although,
because of the opportunities they left for change in the future is why the Nation has continued to
progress. Now the constitution benefits women, blacks, American Indians, and now it should
open up for Latinos. This provides people with the same possibilities and it is what America was
built for, to create opportunity for its people. Unfortunately some issues are not always important
to people, and those who are not yet included in the change have to continue to seek their
inclusion.
Moyers & Company: Hispanic America's Turn. Films on Demand. Films Media Group, 2012.
Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
This is a discussion between Jorge Ramos, Maria Elena Salinas, and Bill Moyers about
various topics that have to do with immigration and how Latinos are an important community in
the United States. Ramos and Salinas are representing the Latino community and giving their
opinions on how Latinos could have influenced the election for presidency before the 2013
election (and can influence any election after). They say that immigration is an important topic
for Latinos because it is very personal. Latinos used to be a small part of the American
community that has grown most than any other. According to Ramos in the 1980s the Latino
population was about 14,000,000 people, and in the 2010s it has increased to 60,000,000, thus

Rosas6

America is not just black and white anymore. To every immigrant America represents freedom
and possibilities, and it is what can unite every one of us.
Pickert, Kate. "Seeds of Change." Time 183.13 (2014): 55. Academic Search Premier. Web.
19 Mar. 2015.
Some films are created to make an impact on people and to try to influence peoples
minds, just like the Cesar Chavez biopic. The film illustrates Chavezs challenges to organize
farmers to fight for better working conditions. Director Diego Luna said that he hoped the film
would inspire people to take action for the current immigrants issues happening within the
American Latino community. The actors in the film are not only Mexican or Mexican American,
but also other types of Latin Americans, showing that Latinos are united and they are from
different cultures, but understand each others struggles. Cesar Chavezs purpose was to
Humanize the Latino community for the American public, and Latinos need to continue to try
and follow these ideas.
Shear, Michael D., and Julia Preston. "Dealt Setback, Obama Puts Off Immigrant Plan." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/us/obama-immigration-policy-halted-by-federaljudge-in-texas.html>.
Ever since President Barack Obama announced his affirmative action many immigrants
had hopes to have better living conditions and to contribute to society, until a Texas judge (Judge
Hanen) stopped the process before people began applying. The Judges argument is that Obama
is taking advantage of his power and doing whatever he wants. Although, Judge Hanen does not
see the positive effects this that affirmative action could have for the country. The office in

Rosas7

charge of the affirmative action will continue to prepare for the action, but will not accept
applications until this issue is resolve.
Sotomayor, Sonia. My Beloved World. New York: Knopf, 2013. Print.
Judge Sotomayor writes a memoir of events in her life that shaped her into making her
who she is. The book illustrates her early life and events that led her to be an independent child
and made her want to become a lawyer or something related. Also her experiences with people
who disliked her, are issued that she is trying to solve now that she has the power to try to do. It
is interesting to see how ones early life can truly shape the future for a person.